Copyright in all artistic works is established from the moment of creation - the only qualification required is that the work must be original. This includes storing a work in electronic form.
Any reproduction can only take place with the artist's consent.
Permission is usually granted in return for a fee, which enables the artist to derive some income from the use of his or her work by others. If an artist is commissioned to produce a work, he or she will usually retain the copyright unless an agreement is signed which specifically assigns the copyright. When artists are employees and create work during the course of their employment, the employer retains the copyright in those works. The current legislation which covers copyright in the UK is the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended. These rights last for the life of the creator plus a period of 70 years from the end of the year in which the creator died.