Sketch paper used by dead artist (5)
I believe the answer is:
draft
'sketch' is the definition.
(I know that draft is a type of sketch)
'paper used by dead artist' is the wordplay.
'paper' becomes 'ft' (the Financial Times newspaper).
'used by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'dead' becomes 'd' (abbreviation in government records).
'artist' becomes 'RA' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'd'+'ra'='dra'
'ft' put after 'dra' is 'DRAFT'.
(Other definitions for draft that I've seen before include "select group" , "Outline or sketch" , "Send" , "Current of air or preliminary sketch" , "Preliminary version or sketch" .)