How To Commission a Painting

Commissioning a painting is an easy process. I have been painting commissions for clients for 17 years, and pride myself on my professional friendly service.

Step 1) Photos

After initial contact, the first thing to do is send me your photos. Pet portraits, wildlife and landscape painting commissions can be painted from your own photographs, as long as they are good quality images. If you're unsure 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 subject I can give you some great tips to help you. If your commission is a landscape painting and the scene 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 to create your 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 (inches/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 or animal ( i.e., more than one pet or animal in your painting ) + £75 per pet/figure.

Step 3) The Mock-up

Once you've sent through your photographs and we've established what kind of painting you require, it's possible to make a nice composition from different photographs using Photoshop. I can alter and move various elements around in your images until you're happy with a composition, before I begin your painting. This process generally applies to pet portraits and wildlife commissions, however I can change elements in landscape photographs too, to make your composition exactly how you'd like it.

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), 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 coming along and get the chance to suggest any alterations or tweaks that you may like to see. It's always easier to make any changes at these earlier stages 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.

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 work load at the time, but I'll let you know this 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 has been finished, 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 is included in the price for delivery within mainland UK. International postage prices will need to be quoted individually though, according to size and destination location. Framed paintings will incur a additional postage and packing charge due to the extra weigh and size associated. 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 painting, with your permission, I may add these to my client testimonials page.