Frequently Asked Questions

Some small pieces or a simple watercolour may only take a few days but larger oils, up to 4 months. I usually work on several pictures at a time but commissions will have my full attention until they’re complete. If all goes well, it’s possible they’re completed earlier than anticipated.

At the moment I only have originals available but hope to have prints soon. If you’re interested in a particular image as a print, please leave a message on the contact form so I can get in touch when I have prints available.

Exact likeness is crucial so good photographs are essential. If you have great photographs with good light (preferably outside or close to window for natural daylight), I am happy to use them. Indoor photos with the flash on will distort fur texture, shadow and colour.
You can always email the photographs and I can see if they are suitable for what you would like.

If location allows, I’d like to meet the pet in-person as their personality can sometimes come across better in the painting after doing so.

If you are not sure what you would like, we can discuss what would work best based on the pet’s character and how it will compliment the place where it will hang.

Once you are happy with the composition, size and medium, I ask for a 25 % deposit with final payment on completion. Alternatively, you can pay by monthly instalments via BACS or Paypal. Either way, I will keep you updated on progress by whichever means you prefer.

Yes. These usually need plenty of time to work out the best time of year to compliment the view. Long shadows in the morning or evening can change a view compared to the middle of the day so it can take many visits to discover the best light, depending on the time of year and the weather. Artistic license is very useful if there are things that would spoil a photograph such as pylons or overhead cables, vehicles etc. We can discuss what you’d like and work out cost accordingly.

While I do not frame my pictures myself, I can recommend an excellent local framer for you to choose your own.

While framing is not essential for oil paintings as I paint round all the side edges of the canvas, it is recommended for:
• Watercolour, to protect the paper.
• Pencil and Pastel to prevent smudging.

If you would like to have your picture framed, we can agree on a frame that compliments the piece and I can deliver the picture to the framer for framing. Once framed, you can collect and pay at a time that’s convenient.

Each commissioned picture depends on size, medium, composition, amount of detail, quality of reference, etc. So each commission has to be calculated individually.

However, as a very rough guide:
• Pet portrait, graphite pencil on paper, 8 x 12 inches (20 x 30 cm): from £400.
• House portrait, watercolour on paper, 16 x 20 inches (41 x 51 cm): from £900.
• Landscape/Seascape, oil on canvas, 59 x 40 inches (150 x 100 cm): from £10,000.

Any personal projects carried out between commissioned work will appear on the website when completed. These personal projects will be available for purchase, both as an original and as prints. However, commissioned artwork is exclusive to the client.