Commission Info

Commissioning a portrait is an exciting and memorable experience providing you with a quality work of art to enjoy for a lifetime. Custom designed to your requirements, commissioned portraits make wonderful gifts for special occasions and are likely to become family heirlooms cherished by future generations.

 

I have experience of working with sitters of all ages and am very proud of the fact that most of my commissions come as a result of referrals by happy clients.

 

If you need a portrait for a special occasion please allow plenty of time. The number of commissions I undertake each year is limited because my technique is very time consuming, and also because I try to allow some time to create my own non-commissioned artworks that help me grow as an artist.

 

The questions and answers below should give you a good idea of my procedures and working methods. If you wish to know more or would like to visit me in my studio to see originals and works in progress, please call (44) 1624 614967 or send your inquiries via the Contact page.  

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q: Can you work from existing family photos?
A: No, and there are a few reasons for that.


- My art is my emotional response to the people I meet and things I experience. I cannot create a portrait full of life without a life sitting.


- Paintings done from photos usually look like painted photos, the fact that they've been done by hand does not make them fine art! A portrait artist's talent is revealed not so much through their ability to capture a recognizable likeness, but through their competence at handling other aspects of the painting process, i.e. composition, lighting, posing, colour harmonies, choice of clothes and props, etc. Realist painters do not copy reality, they selectively use elements of the real world to compose their own images. If you want to have a large version of your favourite photo you do not need to pay someone a lot of money to copy it by hand, you can have it enlarged and printed on canvas in a photography shop.


- Photos taken by other people may be protected by copyright law. A painting can be regarded as an artist's own original work only if it is done from their own source material. 

 

Q: How much does a portrait cost?
A: The fees vary greatly depending on the type of portrait (e.g. head-and-shoulders, half figure with hands or full length) and the medium. Oil portraits are more expensive due to the materials costs and because they take significantly longer to create. Specially requested detailed backgrounds and pets usually incur additional charge. When making an inquiry please indicate what kind of portrait you have in mind, as it will help me to give you a more accurate quote.

 

Q: I want a portrait as a present for a special occasion - how well in advance should I commission?
A: The earlier the better. Allow at least 6 months before you need a drawing, and minimum12 months before you need an oil painting. I always have a number of projects lined up and it can be very difficult and sometimes impossible to accommodate a new portrait with a tight deadline in my schedule.

 

Q: How long does it take you to do a portrait from start to finish?
A: It varies and depends on the medium and complexity of the composition. Normally I allow a month for a drawing commission and 3 months for an oil painting.

 

Q: Why does it take so long?
A: I use a very time-consuming traditional technique developing my images in layers, gradually building up tones and nuances of colour, and allowing the painting to dry between the layers. It is not possible to obtain the same result in any other way, and it is worth the time it takes.

 

Q: Where will the sittings take place?
A: Ideally in my studio, because I have full control over the light there. I work only in natural light, and my purpose-built studio has tall north-facing windows providing me with excellent light that behaves in a predictable way. However, I can travel to my sitter's location if we decide it is not practical or possible for them to come to my place, for example, if they do not live on the Isle of Man, or if they would like me to include their interior or a pet in the painting.

 

Q: What if the sitter is too busy or too young to sit for the required length of time?
A: After I pose the sitter I will take photographs that I will selectively use in my working process. Those images are reference material only: they remind me of the sitting, not replace it.

 

Q: What if I am not happy with the likeness?
A: I will make the necessary adjustments and work as long as it takes to achieve a good likeness. I will not release the portrait from my studio unless you are happy with it.

 

Q: What if don't want to purchase the portrait?
A: That has never happened before, but if you decide you do not want to purchase the portrait for whatever reason, you are under no obligation to do so! I always want my clients to be happy with my work, as it is the best advertising I could possibly ever have.

 

 

 

 

For more info call (44) 1624 614967 or send you inquiry using the Contact form.