I am an artist and managed to earn a decent living out of it, although I am aware that I would have made far more money if I had gone into a different field.
I have been reading about abstract art recently, and my own work fits this description (atmospheric landscape themes) and discovered a lot of resistance and suspicion surrounding the subject of abstraction. I didn't notice this when studying and haven't experienced it personally, but the internet has made me more aware of people's tastes. And a lot of people really hate abstract art!
I see now that the majority of my customers/clients are middle class and upwards. This isn't merely economic, as smaller works and reproduction prints sell to the same people. My own experience has taught me that abstraction is more popular in places such as Germany, France, Sweden, etc, than English speaking countries, which tend to swing a little more to the traditionalist (representational) side. The majority of my followers fit this pattern. Perhaps it something to do with what we are exposed to when young, our family values and maybe education.
In your experience, is this a thing?
I am thinking it is less a class issue and more about exposure to the arts in general. At least 50% of my uni course was working class so I am tempted to think a class theory is bollocks, although older generations of working class can be more vociferously vocal about it 
.
I also know that it is becoming much more difficult for working class artists (from painting to theatre) to get into these fields than previously, but that is a different subject. I am only focusing on abstract art.
I know art is subjective, and some people have very strong opinions about it. But I have seen some pretty heavy statements about abstract painters online, complaining that we are pretentious, having them on, can't really draw, etc. Of course I know that it isn't easy at all to create an abstract work that resonates so it isn't worth arguing with these opinions, but I am curious if anyone else has noticed a bias against abstraction in the UK. Most of my own clients have been Australian, European (non UK) or from larger UK cities. I don't see many abstract exhibitions or galleries in regular towns.
Corporate loves abstraction (banks, offices), probably because it can be ambiguous or mood focused, so doesn't distract or present any kind of bias.
Just to add: art being subjective, this is not a complaint about people disliking abstract art. I don't like minimalist art, or pop art. Personal opinion is valid, and there is no right or wrong to art appreciation. I mention abstraction because it does seem to bring out some very angry emotions in many people.
Sorry this is long, I did a search and nothing came up.