Commission Information
For me, undertaking a commission is an absolute joy, privilege and an honour and something that I take great pride in. I take the utmost care and attention with every drawing that I do, whether it's an original commission or a piece of art that I just want to draw for myself and no matter what the subject matter is.
Commissioning a portrait of a loved one, friend, pet or an object/s is quite straightforward but the key to it all is communication between myself and you. At the end you will have an original and beautiful hand drawn work of art which you will love and cherish forever.
My commissioned drawings are usually portraits of people, pets or objects. However, if you have something else in mind then please do get in touch. This page and my Gallery showcase some of the drawings that I have undertaken as commissions for other people.
My Diary is now officially open for commissions for 2024.
Please use the "Contact" form to get in touch if you would like me to undertake a commissioned piece for you.
What you need to know
Here I will talk about the basic process and as I've previously mentioned "communication is key" to get the best result.
All of my drawings are hand drawn in graphite, coloured pencil or a combination of both. Combining a graphite drawing with the tiniest hint of colour such as the iris of the eyes or a coloured portion of clothing can also be very effective. Ultimately I will draw what you want me to draw as long as any *reference photos are preferably digital and of a very good quality so I can see the details clearly in order to bring the drawing to life. I can advise you and guide you as to what makes a good photograph for me to use as a reference for the drawing.
*see the information below for a more in depth guide for reference photos advice.
Other information
I specialize primarily in Graphite. However, I also offer coloured pencil drawings or a combination of Graphite and Coloured Pencil.
If you prefer a more traditional and timeless look, then graphite would be my suggestion. These drawings are created using high-quality graphite pencils, resulting in a beautiful greyscale image.
If you'd like a more colourful look to your drawing these are drawn with coloured pencils that are archival and lightfast. The result is a stunning and colourful representation of your subject.
Both mediums are drawn on museum grade archival paper. This type of specialist paper can last for hundreds of years without appreciable fading, discolouration or deterioration. This ensures that your portraits are not only visually captivating but also made with the utmost quality materials.
All of the drawings displayed on this page were commissioned by customers. By clicking on any of the images, you will be able to view them in a larger size, thus allowing you to appreciate the intricate details even more. Each drawing on this page has been uniquely tailored to meet the specific requirements of the customer. The size of the paper used for each drawing varies, as it is determined by the number of subjects to be included in the artwork and whether a background has been requested.
Reference Photographs
When selecting reference images for a portrait, it is crucial to consider these essential factors.
The photographs chosen should possess utmost clarity, enabling a detailed depiction. Whilst I do prefer digital photos to work from, if you don't have a digital photo and only a physical photo I would advise to get a copy of the physical photo and send it to me to look at up close but often it is very hard to see the details clearly from a physical photo. I will let you know if a photo isn't good enough to draw from. We can have a detailed chat to determine your desired look and any specific requirements you may have. If you are uncertain about the suitability of your current photos, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I am available to discuss and provide guidance on this matter. Together, we can ensure that your portrait turns out exactly the way you envision it.
Please use the "Contact" form to get in touch with me and start the conversation of a commission and we'll go from there.
Portrait pricing
I go into more specific details regarding price, deposits and when final payment is due under the "Commission Prices" dropdown menu but below is a very brief outline of how the pricing works.
Prices for commissions vary depending on the size and how many subjects you want in your drawing.
Graphite pencil portraits with one subject start at £200 for the smallest paper size of 5in x 7in and up to £1700 for the largest paper size of 18in x 24in in coloured pencil. All prices are based on one subject. Multiple subjects or a detailed background will increase the cost. Generally, add 20% extra to the price for each extra subject and/or background.
How long does it take?
This is a question that I am often asked. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this as it varies depending on the medium used and whether or not it has a background or extra subjects. I can generally spend anywhere from 30 to 100 hours on a drawing which I estimate to be a minimum of 6 weeks on a single drawing but occasionally this can be longer. I will tell you when I am due to start your drawing and I once started I will update you frequently at various stages of the drawing process with progress pictures. One thing I will not do is rush the process.
