How to commission your own portrait

​Find out how the process works

If you are thinking of commissioning a bespoke painting for yourself or a loved one, you can find all the information here to ensure the process is simple and enjoyable​. If you have any questions, please get in touch, or you can fill in the form at the bottom of this page to request a no-obligation quote or place your booking.

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1. Size & Medium

I use the finest quality products to create my art, and the process takes many hours to achieve the realistic detail you see in every piece I do. It is your choice which medium and portrait size you would like, and if you would like to view examples, click one of the galleries below. If you book an acrylic portrait, you can also order FRAMING with your painting, so this may be another option you wish to ponder.
Request a no-obligation quote, place your booking using the on-page booking form below, or contact me directly.

ACRYLICS

COLOURED PENCILS

OIL PASTELS

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2. Reference images

As my work is very intricate, good quality reference photos are a must. Digital images are preferred, as I can zoom in and view the small details. If you only have physical photos, please scan them and email me. I will see what I can do. If you send a few photographs, it gives me a better idea of your subject. For pets and portraits, naturally lit images are always the best options. Please email your photo(s) to me and I'll provide guidance.

​​​If you need advice on choosing your photo or pointers for taking your own photographs, view the section below. Click on any tab to expand and read the hints and tips.

Help & advice for taking your own reference photos for your portrait:

When booking a portrait, the reference image you choose for your portrait is paramount to the outcome final artwork. Good quality images are a must for the detailed work that I create, but I do understand that it is not always possible to provide such perfect photographs. 

​To help you make your decision, I have put some information together to offer help & advice when choosing the best photograph for your portrait. My artwork is created to last a lifetime so it is important you choose the right composition that will adorn your wall for many years to come.

Perfect balance

Choose a photo that was taken in natural light, preferably outdoors. Avoid strong sunlight. A light, cloudy day is usually best. 

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Too blurry

Blurry, out of focus images are not sufficient for reference use as detail is essential. Improvising can render the subject unrecognisable.

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Too dark

If your photos are underexposed, any attempts to brighten them up will cause the deterioration of both detail and natural colour.

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QUICK CHECKLIST

DO:
√ Use a digital or SLR camera where possible
√ Take photos in Natural daylight (avoid high sun - best before 11am and after 2pm)
√ Take photos at eye level
√ ​Fill the camera frame with the subject
√ Take a collection of photographs

DONT:
X Use flash unless absolutely necessary
X Resize your images - keep them as large as possible
​X Photograph looking down on your subject unless you prefer this stance
X Take your photos in artificial lighting as this creates unnatural colouration
X use camera phones, this can result in low-quality imagery
X Provide a photo taken by someone else without their permission

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MULTIPLE SUBJECTS:
If you are booking a portrait with multiple subjects, please provide a group of individual photos and of them all together for sizing purposes. Your portrait will be constructed from individual reference images
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Advice for pet portraits:

Head & Shoulders portrait

This is the most popular choice for portraits. The 'head and shoulders' pose provides a portrait full of detail, so high quality reference photos are invaluable, especially if you require a large format portrait. Zoom in to your photo to see how clear the details are, if they pixelate or look fuzzy, it may not be suitable. Guess work is not ideal.

Pet within a background

If you have chosen a portrait of your pet with a scenic environment, the finer details of your pet are not as important. Although it may
if you require a large portrait. Ensure there is detail in your photo when zooming in. Please ensure your photo provides natural colouration of your subject and avoid under or over exposed areas. 

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* Fill the camera frame with the subject for head & shoulder portraits    * Take in natural light wherever possible    * Take a close up photo of the subject for detail    * 

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X   Avoid low quality images

This photograph has been heavily cropped substantially degrading the detail. The colour is also very patchy and an intricate portrait is not feasible in this instance. If you have other photos, please provide them so I can advise the better choice.

X   Avoid Flash

Flash in photography is very harsh. Particularly in dark coloured animals,  the main concerns are underexposure that no amount of highlighting will enhance. ​Flash photos are rarely a friend of an artist; too much shine on the fur, lack of natural colour and overexposed pupils.

✓ Natural light is best

Dark animals are difficult to photograph, just as are light ones. Add both these tones together and you'll find it doubly challenging whilst you attempt to capture balance whilst juggling opposite ends of the colour spectrum. Outside on a cloudy day will provide you the right balance of light for your pet photography session.

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Advice for horse owners

Remove tack where possible

Light source should be at the front

Ears should be pointing forward

Advice for human portraiture:

PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY

Head & Shoulders portrait

This is the most popular option for a portrait. If you prefer the 'head and shoulders' option, the photo should be of good quality, particularly so if you are choosing a large portrait. Zoom into your digital photo(s) to see if the details are clear. If they blur or pixelate, I may not be able to work with it. Changing any part of the portrait due to missing detail could render the person unrecognisable.

Portrait within a background

If you have chosen a full body photo within a scenic environment, it is not as important to see the very fine detail when I zoom in to the image unless your portrait is a large one. It is important however to ensure colour balance and that any overexposure or underexposure is limited. A photo of the subject can be superimposed onto any background, so provide as many images as you have.

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* Fill the camera frame with the subject     * Take in natural light wherever possible    * Take a close up photo of the subject for detail

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X   Avoid low quality images

This photograph has been heavily cropped causing detail to degrade. Although the colour is acceptable offering natural colour, much of the fine detail is lacking and a complex portrait would not be viable. A more impressionistic finish would be the only option.

X   Avoid Flash

Flash photography is very harsh. The main issues caused by flash is the creation of dark shadows which can over accentuate facial features like the nose. It can create shiny skin and change the colour of eyes and hair. All these combined could make an unflattering image, so it is best to avoid.

✓ Natural light is best

A photo taken in natural light, whether outdoors or in front of a window on a bright day offers a good balance of colour and detail. Fill the camera viewer with your subject so the detail can be viewed easily when zooming. This will guarantee a lifelike portrait, important for large scale portraits.

Important copyright information

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Please Note:  All Artwork copyright remains with the artist and may be used for future advertising literature (please read and accept the Terms and conditions before you go ahead with your commission(s).

Most Importantly: Please make sure you have copyright to any photograph(s) you wish me to draw/paint. 
If you wish me to use an image that has been taken by a professional photographer, due to copyright laws, I require written permission from the photographer - the exception is if you have purchased the images and the copyright of which you should have written proof - before commencing a piece, I will require a copy of this.  

physical photographs

You may want a portrait of a pet or a loved one, but only have physical photographs available. These can prove challenging to work with, especially old images that captured a wonderful moment but offered very little detail. If this is the case, provide a few images so I can see what is possible. Click the image of the Cocker Spaniel to view a commission that was produced from a photo.

3. Mock-ups & Timescales

If your portrait is created from two or more photographs, I will create a mock-up before I begin your portrait. Completion times vary depending on complexity. As I work between portraits, I can begin a commission straight away. Unless a completion date has been prearranged, I will always complete a portrait in the order that they were booked. Dependent on the number of commissions on the easel, I aim for completion within 6 weeks, however, larger and/or more complex portraits are likely to take longer and it is important to take into account the extra time needed to varnish an acrylic painting. Once I begin your portrait, I will upload updates to your portrait page so you can follow its progress. Gifted portraits are kept private until after they have been presented to the recipient. 

​​If you wish to request any changes during the creation of your portrait, please get in touch. It is easier for me to do this during the process rather than the end.

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4. Deposits

A 50% deposit of the total price is required before I begin the portrait (which includes any framing) This will secure your booking. The outstanding amount is then due upon completion and pre-posting. Payments can be made via bank transfer, Paypal and Cheque.  Please see my Terms & Conditions page for all payment details, this covers important information, including payments, returns and damages. 

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5. Progress page

A webpage will be created which will allow you to follow the progress of your portrait. Updates will be added to the page over the period of creation, allowing you to request any adaptations or tweaks throughout. Videos may also be uploaded, giving you a better view of the portrait. A link will be emailed to you, so you can visit the page at any time.

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6. Final payments

Once your portrait is complete, you can view the final image on your personal page. You can clarify or request tweaks before I then prepare it for the next stage. If you are happy with the portrait, the final balance is then due before postage.

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7. Delivery

Once your portrait is ready for posting, it will be securely packaged and posted out using Royal Mail. I use a 24 hour delivery service within the UK. Outside the UK, deliveries may take 5 - 7 working days. All parcels are insured in case of damage or loss. Check your parcel is not damaged before signing for it. I use recycled and biodegradable packaging wherever possible. If you can, please recycle the package.

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Feedback

I always enjoy receiving feedback on a portrait, and any photographs you may have of the portrait in situ is appreciated. These are added to the personal page of your portrait.

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Have a question? You may find the answer here

​I would like to commission you to produce a piece of Artwork - What information do you require?

Take a look at the 'COMMISSIONS' page which goes into detail on specifics but I would need an idea of the size you may be looking for and which medium you would like it in, Coloured pencils or Acrylics.  It is also important to know if you have a preference on stance such as 'full body' or just head shot. All these questions will be sent to you in an E-mail but the best option to begin with would be to mail me photographs of the commission subject.

​How long does it take you to produce a piece of Artwork?

It varies from medium to medium, for example a Coloured pencil piece can take anywhere between 1 - 8 weeks and Acrylics takes around 1 - 6 weeks, both mediums are highly detailed and so  it all depends on the size and complexity.

I would like a commission producing of a deceased pet but have no good quality photographs. What do you recommend?

You are more than welcome to E-mail me the ones you do have so I can advise - sometimes I may be able to edit and improve the photograph by using an editing software program or I will search the Internet for other reference images and use them for detail that may be lacking in a poor reference. There have been times I have not been able to work with a photo but I will try my best, however remember that the quality of the Artwork is greatly improved with great detailed photographs.

I would like a piece of Artwork producing for a certain date, would you be able to do it?

That all depends on the 'date' it is required for and obviously the requirements of the piece.  I will happily work to deadlines if it is possible so please drop me a message with the details or stipulate it on the booking form below and I'll see what I can do.

How much do you charge for a bespoke piece of Art?

This all depends on requirements such as medium, size and subject(s). You can take a look at one of the galleries either ACRYLICS or COLOURED PENCILS, to view prices and sizing which gives a breakdown of costs dependant on your preferences. Each Gallery page has a price list at the bottom of the page so you can view past portraits also, however, you can always drop me an E-mail if you have a specific commission idea.

I do not live in the UK, do you offer the option of commissions from Overseas?

Yes, as I work from photographs and can post progression shots on my website, it is very easy for me to produce a commission for anyone, anywhere in the world. Payments are made via Paypal which is a secure and trusted online payment site.

Do you offer framing with the commission?

I offer a full framing service for my Acrylic paintings - details and examples can be found on my FRAMING page.
My coloured pencil portraits are sent unframed. Pencil portraits can be framed in so many different ways and as it is a personal choice, I would always recommend you are able to spend some time with a local framer who can help and advise on the options they offer, also there are sadly no delivery companies that will insure glass and in case of damage, I prefer not to offer a framing service with my pencil portraits unless a portrait is being collected in person.

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Ask another question?  Contact me HERE

Ask For A Quote or Book Your Bespoke Commission

If you wish to get a 'no obligation' price quote or book your commission directly, all the information I will need for your commission can be entered in the form below to ensure a quick response.  Providing photographs via the form will allow me a better idea of your commission subject.