Do you want a glimpse of nature in your life with a striking wildlife portrait, or celebrate a beloved pet? Maybe you want to treat yourself or give someone an extra special gift? Whatever you're motives, commissioning a bespoke painting from me is a fantastic option!
Take a look at the step by step guide below and fill out my commission enquiry form with all the relevant details if you're interested in commissioning a pet or wildlife painting from me.
I work with two distinct mediums in my art; Acrylic and Watercolour. Both are beautiful techniques but create drastically different portraits.
Where my Acrylic work embraces the deep and rich my watercolours can be described as vibrant, dynamic and detailed. Painted onto 100% cotton, acid free, paper, the Transparent nature of watercolours brings a luminosity to each painting. If you prefer a bright, energetic piece that brings a modern twist to your space this is the choice for you. A good example of my watercolour work is Bonnie the black cat pictured above.
Watercolour
Acrylic
Painted on up-cycled wooden panels My acrylic work is bold, rich and full of deep texture. Inspired by historic icon paintings and the deep pan-cultural connection between gold and the divine, I incorporate metal leaf (faux or genuine upon discussion) as a nod towards the deep connection I have with nature. If you want a bold and show-stopping painting an Acrylic may be for you. A good example of this technique is the squirrel at the bottom of
this text.
Watercolour
Quarter Imperial (13"x17' Inches)-£225+
- Suitable for single animal head-studies
Half Imperial (18"x24" Inches)-£450+
- Suitable for single, full-bodied animals or up to 2 animal head-studies
Full Imperial (22"x30" Inches)-£900+
- Suitable for 1-2 full-bodied animals or up to 4 animal head-studies
Watercolour portraits are typically unframed and unmounted, to give you the freedom to select your own with a framer of your choice, but framing is available for an extra fee (to be discussed on an individual basis).
Prices are in GBP and do not include postage and packaging. Get in touch for an international quote. A non refundable 50% deposit secures your commission slot, the remainder is payable once I have completed the painting. Payment plans can also be arranged, just drop me a message across to discuss it.
Acrylic
Quarter Imperial (13"x17' Inches)-£375+
- Suitable for single animal head-studies
Half Imperial (18"x24" Inches)-£675+
- Suitable for single, full bodied animals or up to 2 animal head-studies
Full Imperial (22"x30" Inches)-£1000+
- Suitable for 1-2 full bodied animals or up to 4 animal head-studies
My acrylic pieces are painted directly onto wooden panels with an inbuilt frame that is gilded and part of the overall artwork, meaning they can be hung directly onto the wall. The sizes quoted above refer to the central panel only, where your chosen subject will be painted. Prices include the use of faux metal leaf, but if you are interested in genuine precious metal leaf please email me to discuss your options.
Prices are in GBP and do not include postage and packaging. Get in touch for an international quote. A non refundable 50% deposit secures your commission slot, the remainder is payable once I have completed the painting. Payment plans can also be arranged, just drop me a message across to discuss it.
Pet Portraits
It's vital you have at least one high quality reference photograph of the subject, like this one, so I can produce the best painting possible. The ideal reference is close up, well lit and shows lots of detail. Take a look at these five top tips to to see what makes the best reference photos.
Wildlife Commissions
I can source a suitable reference photo - but it's useful if you show me the kinds of images you like. If you already have a reference photo in mind, you must have written permission from the photographer unless it already has a creative commons licence.
Once you've decided on a medium, size and subject, it's time to fill out the commission enquiry form! I will get back to you asap to discuss any further details before booking you in formally. I am often booked up at least 1 month in advance, so be sure to get in touch in plenty of time.
To secure your space, I require a non-refundable deposit of 50% payable via Paypal (you don't need a paypal account, don't worry!).
When I've received the deposit, and your slot has rolled around I will get in touch to confirm a design plan, and will send updates during the process too.
On average, for a single head study it takes a minimum of:
Watercolour
2 weeks for a Quarter Imperial
4 weeks for a Half Imperial
8 weeks for a Full Imperial
Acrylic
3+ weeks for a Quarter Imperial
6+ weeks for a Half Imperial
10+ weeks for a Full Imperial
I will advise you of an estimated completion date when I begin your portrait.
Upon completion, I will send a final photo for you to approve. Once the outstanding balance of your commission is paid, I will then securely package your portrait up and post it out using a tracked postal service. Your portrait is then yours to frame up and cherish!