How to Commission a Custom Hand-Painted Portrait

Considering a custom art commission? All the necessary information is readily available here to make your journey smooth and enjoyable. Should you have any queries, feel free to reach out. Alternatively, you can complete the form at the end of this page for a no-obligation quote or to secure your booking.

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1. Size & Medium

Select the medium and portrait size that best suits your preferences. To explore a medium further, click the button below each price list. If you opt for acrylics or oil pastels as your medium, why not take advantage of my framing services. For those considering a pet portrait, visit my pet portraits page. This showcases a comprehensive collection of my work.  Request a no-obligation quote, place your booking using the on-page booking form below, or contact me directly. ​If you're buying for someone else, a gift voucher may be more convenient so they can personalise their own portrait.

Prices shown are for unframed portraits.
​Free UK postage is included.

Acrylics ​(Inches/Cm's):	With Scenic ​background
8" x 10" (20cm x 25cm)	£250.00
9" x 12" (25cm x 30cm)	£280.00
11" x 14" (28cm x 40cm)	£410.00
12" x 16" (30cm x 40cm)	£500.00
16" x 20" (40cm x 50cm)	£700.00

Each acrylic painting is produced on a 3mm board, which restricts the availability of varying sizes. Prices for tonal backgrounds only can be found HERE. Require a specific size? Please ask. Framing is available.

Explore Acrylics

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Oil Pastels ​(Inches/Cm's):	With Scenic background
8" x 10" (20cm x 25cm)	£230.00
9" x 12" (23cm x 30cm)	£260.00
11" x 14" (28cm x 40cm)	£360.00
12" x 16" (30cm x 40cm)	£450.00
16" x 20" (40cm x 50cm)	£630.00

Oil pastel paintings are created on textured paper or board, so sizes are flexible. Require a specific size? Just ask. Prefer a tonal background? Click the link below to view prices. Framing is available.

Explore Oil Pastels

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Coloured Pencils (Inches/Cm's):	Without background
8" x 10" (20cm x 25cm)	£250.00
10" x 12" (25cm x 30cm)	£290.00
11" x 14" (28cm x 40cm)	£430.00
12" x 16" (30cm x 40cm)	£480.00
16" x 20" (40cm x 50cm)	£750.00

Coloured pencil drawings are created on cotton paper so sizes are flexible. Prefer a scenic background? Click the link below to view pricing. I do not offer framing with my pencil drawings.

Explore Pencils

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2. Reference images

Given the intricate nature of my work, high-quality reference photos are essential. Digital images are preferred as they allow for detailed examination. If you only have physical photos, kindly scan and email them to me for evaluation. Providing multiple photos can offer a more comprehensive understanding of your subject. For pet and portrait commissions, images taken in natural light are ideal. If you require assistance in selecting your photo or tips on capturing your own photographs, refer to the section below or get in touch with me. Simply click on any tab to access a wealth of 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

The ‘head and shoulders’ pose is a favoured choice for pet portraits, offering a detailed and intimate depiction of your beloved pet. High-quality reference photos are essential for this style, particularly for large format portraits. To ensure the best outcome, zoom into your photo to check the clarity of the details. If they appear pixelated or fuzzy, the photo may not be suitable. Remember, precision is key in creating a life-like pet portrait.

Pet within a background

Choosing a pet portrait set against a scenic backdrop offers a unique perspective where the intricate details of your pet may not be the primary focus. However, if a larger portrait is what you desire, the finer details become more significant. To ensure the best outcome, it’s crucial that your photo retains its quality when zoomed in. Additionally, for the most authentic representation, please provide a photo that captures the natural colours of your pet and avoids areas of under or overexposure. ​

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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

The above photo has been significantly cropped, resulting in a substantial loss of detail. Additionally, the uneven colour distribution hinders the creation of a detailed portrait. The quality of the photos you provide is crucial for crafting a realistic representation.

X   Avoid Flash

Flash photography can be quite severe, especially for dark-coloured animals. It often results in underexposure that even extensive highlighting can’t rectify. Flash photos typically aren’t artist-friendly due to excessive shine on the fur, loss of natural colour, and overexposed pupils.

✓ Natural light is best

Photographing dark and light animals can be a complex task, as it involves balancing contrasting tones from opposite ends of the colour spectrum. However, an outdoor session on a cloudy day can provide the ideal lighting balance for your pet photography

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Advice for horse owners

Crafting the perfect horse portrait is an art that respects your preferences. Whether you’re drawn to the raw beauty of your horse in its natural, ungroomed state, or you’re captivated by a more polished, groomed look, the choice is entirely yours. If you do not require tack and blankets, please provide images that exclude them. This is essential, as obscured details in the photograph cannot be accurately represented in the portrait. Lastly, for optimal results, especially with darker horses, make sure the light is illuminating the front of your horse’s body and head to prevent shadows. Your horse portrait, your rules.
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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 copyrights are retained by the artist and may be utilized for future promotional materials. Prior to proceeding with your commission(s), kindly ensure you have read and accepted the Terms and Conditions.
Most Importantly: It’s crucial to verify that you hold the copyright to any photograph(s) you’d like me to recreate in paint or pencil. If the image was captured by a professional photographer, I’ll need written permission from them due to copyright laws. The only exception is if you’ve purchased the images and their copyrights, for which you should have written proof. Before I begin work on a piece, I’ll need a copy of this proof.

physical photographs

Looking to immortalise a cherished pet or loved one in a portrait? Working with physical photographs, particularly older ones, can be challenging due to their lack of detail. However, even a photo capturing a fleeting, precious moment can be transformed into a beautiful piece of art. To explore the possibilities, simply provide multiple images. For an example of a commission crafted from a photograph, click on the Cocker Spaniel image below.

3. Mock-ups & Timescales

If your portrait is crafted from multiple photographs, I will generate a preliminary mock-up before initiating the actual portrait. The completion timeline varies, influenced by the complexity of the piece. Unless a specific completion date is pre-set, portraits are completed in the sequence they were booked. Depending on the volume of commissions, I endeavour to complete commissions within a three to six-week timeframe. The possibility of shorter completion times is subject to the intricacy of the portrait. However, larger or more complex portraits may necessitate a longer timescale. Timeframes will be agreed upon before starting any work. Upon starting your portrait, I will post updates on your dedicated portrait page, enabling you to track its progress. If you desire any modifications during the creation of your portrait, please reach out. It’s more convenient to incorporate changes during the creation process rather than at 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.
Click here to read authentic testimonials from satisfied customers

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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.