Commissions

Welcome to my commissions page! I welcome commissions for most wildlife subjects, pets and horses. Before you contact me please read the information below to help you determine the size, composition and approximate price for your portrait. All of my drawings are rendered on the highest quality Fabriano Artistico 100% cotton paper. 

 
Wildlife Subjects

If you have a specific subject in mind (photographsyou may have taken at a zoo for example) I require high resolution digital copies in order to render the most realistic representation. It is my goal to capture the personality of every animal I draw and without detailed photos this is very difficult. Sometimes I may require several photos depending on the subject. I do need at least one high resolution photo showing the eyes. The eyes are the most important part of any portrait. The eyes are the life and soul of any portrait and I begin every drawing here. Please feel free to email me your animal photos and I will be happy to discuss their suitability.

However, you may simply have an idea in your mind and I am here to help you put this on paper. Please don’t be shy about sharing your suggestions!

Pricing

Generally the price of a portrait will depend on its size.  Normally I calculate the price by estimating the number of hours it will take to complete. The smallest size of head portrait I work with is 25cm x 25cm. It becomes much more difficult to show all the fine details when the subject is significantly reduced in size. A head portrait of this size takes approximately 45-50 hours to complete and will cost around £850. The smallest size of full body portrait I work with is 35cm x 35cm. These can take up to 80 hours to complete and will cost around £1500. Please note that I do not charge VAT currently.

Please keep in mind that these are general guidelines and all portraits are geared to the chosen pose and your personal preferences. The size of the picture may need to be larger, depending on the orientation of the subject and this will be reflected in the price. Also, please bear in mind that the more complex the subject the higher the cost will be e.g. a head portrait of a Reptile is significantly more complex than that of a Cat and therefore will cost more.

Of course I can undertake portraits which are larger in size than those detailed above but generally I prefer not to go above 100cm in length. Drawings of this size are highly involved and can run into thousands of pounds. All quotes will be honoured for 30 days.

 
Payment Information

 Once the details of your portrait have been agreed you will be sent an invoice via email and given a priority number. This reflects the number of portraits to be completed before yours, for example priority #3 means that there are 2 other portraits ahead of yours. I will also provide an approximate completion date for your portrait. At this point I will also ask you to confirm that you have read and agree to my terms and conditions. 

Each drawing is highly detailed and an enormous amount of work is required to complete each one. Therefore, I will require a 10% deposit and this will reserve your priority number. The deposit is non-refundable after the portrait is reasonably advanced. The balance of the payment is not due until you have approved a photographic proof of the finished article. The preferred methods of payment are bank transfer, PayPal (fees are the responsibility of the client) or personal cheque.

If you wish I can send you several updates in jpeg format (via email) so you can view the progress of your portrait as it is created. However some people prefer to wait and see the finished article.

Postage and Packaging 

The cost of shipping will be calculated when I provide your initial quote. This will be determined by the size of portrait and your location. As soon as I receive the final payment for your artwork it will be shipped via Royal Mail Special Delivery or Courier. Your portrait will be shipped flat in a temporary plastic clip frame to prevent any damage to it during transit.  All artwork is insured against loss or damage during transit and you will be provided with a tracking number for your parcel.

Once you have received your portrait special care must be taken when removing it from the clip frame. Unpack on a flat surface and do not bend the paper or touch the surface as this can smudge the work. Once you have examined your portrait and are happy, return it to the plastic frame. Store in a dry location away from direct sunlight until you are ready to have it properly framed. No responsibility will be taken for damage caused by careless handling.

 
100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

My highest priority is your satisfaction. I trust the quality of my work will please even the most critical eye. However, if you are not completely satisfied with your commissioned portrait I will work with you until it is to your liking.