How To Commission a Painting
Commissioning your own painting is an easy process. I've been painting commissions for clients for 18 years, and pride myself on my professional friendly service. You can commission a landscape painting, wildlife painting or pet portrait from wherever you are in the world, just follow the steps below and I'll guide you through the process. If you have any questions that I don't answer below get in touch, I'm happy to help.
Step 1) Photographs
After initial contact, the first thing to do is send me your photographs.
Pet Portraits - Pet portrait commissions are usually painted from your own photographs, as long as your photographs are good quality large images. If you're not sure if your photographs are good enough, just email them through to me and I can take a look. If you need help taking a nice photograph of your pet I can give you some great tips that will help you.
Landscape Paintings - If your commission is a landscape painting, the quality of your photograph isn't as important. For landscapes we just need your photographs to use as a guide, then we can adjust, move, remove or add things as you wish. Just tell me what you'd like in your painting and I can paint it for you. If the place or area that you'd like painted is relatively close to my studio, here in west Wales, I'm happy to visit the location and gather any reference material we need.
Wildlife Paintings - If you have a specific photograph of the subject you would like painted, perfect. Failing that, I have photographs of most UK wildlife species that we can work through together, and that will offer you different ideas and compositions before you decide on your final painting.
Step 2) Painting Size & Pricing
Use the chart below to help you chose your preferred painting size, if you're unsure what size would work best, just contact me and I can help you. Sizes other than those listed are available and can be quoted upon request. Prices are the same whether your commission is a landscape, seascape, pet portrait, or wildlife painting.
| Size (inch/mm) | Price (GBP) |
| 12 x 10 inch (305 x 254mm) | £225 |
| 16 x 12 inch (406 x 305mm) | £295 |
| 20 x 16 inch (510 x 406mm) | £385 |
| 24 x 18 inch (610 x 460mm) | £450 |
| 30 x 20 inch (760 x 510mm) | £525 |
| 36 x 24 inch ( 915 x 760mm ) | £650 |
| 40 x 20 inch (1010 x 500mm) | £650 |
| 40 x 30 inch (1010 x 769mm) | £850 |
*Each additional pet/animal (i.e., more than one pet or animal in your painting) + £75 per pet/animal. | |
Step 3) The Mock-up
Once you've sent through your photographs and we've established what kind of composition you'd like, if any adjustment is needed to your images I can alter the composition digitaly using Photoshop. Sometimes it helps to move various elements around in your images to make a more pleasing composition before begining your painting. This process generally applies to pet portraits and wildlife commissions more than landscapes, but I can also change elements in landscape photographs if needed. In this way we can get your composition exactly how you'd like it before I start painting.
Step 4) Place A Deposit
Once we're ready to begin on your painting, I ask for a £75 deposit to secure a place on my waiting list. I work on a first come first served basis, so my client painting list is in order of bookings taken. I will give you a start/finish date for your painting when initial contact is made. Clients in the UK can pay via online bank transfer payment (preferred method), Paypal or credit/debit card. Clients visiting my studio can pay via credit/debit cards via iZettle card reader.
Step 5) The Painting Process
As I paint your commission I'll email you through photographs of my progress at various stages, this way you can see how your painting is progressing, and get the chance to suggest any alterations or tweaks that you may like to see as we go along. It's always easier to make any changes at these earlier stages of a painting if there's something you'd like adjusted, however it is still possible to tweak elements and make small changes nearer the final stages of the painting if needed.
Step 6) Time Frame
Your painting will take approximately 6 weeks to paint, which includes drying and varnishing time. The start date is dependent on my waiting list at the time, but I'll let you know the approximate start date when you first enquire.
Step 7) Framing
All commissioned paintings are sold unframed. However, if you'd like your painting framed, I'm happy to arrange this for you. Professional framers, Geoff and Candy Taylor of 'Cottage Harmony Framing Company', based locally in Blaenporth here in West Wales, carry out all my picture framing. They have a wide variety of frame mouldings in stock, and a vast choice from their suppliers, any of which can be ordered specifically for you. I can put you in touch with Geoff and Candy so you can arrange framing yourself, or I can organise and arrange your framing for you.
Step 8) Final Payment
Once your painting is finished, and any adjustments you requested have been made, and you are completely happy with the results, I will email you a final invoice for the remaining balance.
Step 9) Delivery of Your Artwork
Postage & packaging on all commissions for delivery within mainland UK is included in the price. International delivery prices will need to be quoted individually, according to painting size and your delivery destination. Framed paintings will incur a additional postage and packing charge due to the extra weight and size. You can find out more about delivery of your painting here.
And Finally...
It's always nice to see photographs of my clients with their finished paintings. This stage isn't necessary of course, but should you like to email me through a photograph of yourself with your finished painting, with your permission, I may add these to my client testimonials page here.
