Owner of Artiq

Words and photography Markus Bidaux

Patrick McCrae launched Artiq, his art subscription business, from his childhood bedroom a decade ago. Fast forward to 2019, and the company has a list of clients including top hotels and museums — and has paid more than £1m to well-known and emerging artists.

How did you get into the art world?

I started 10 years ago, after I graduated. My mother is an artist and my father has run businesses his entire life. So, I was brought up in an art and business household. In 2009, there were a lot of people taking creative and arts degrees, but traditional forms of funding for the arts is being cut back significantly.

What was the biggest challenge?

Establishing credibility. When I started, I didn’t have any business experience and I had never sold art. I spent the first two years learning the ropes, establishing myself. Also, the original concept, the idea of renting out art, was relatively new.

How long were you a one-man band?

Three years. I worked at a chippy for the first two years in Cambridge until I earned enough money to pay myself a wage. I hired my first full-time employee in 2012. I used to do everything in the business, which our installers now think is hysterical because I’m not overly capable at that side of things.