A Sleeping Baby

1. How do I go about commissioning a portrait?
Please get in touch with me by email or by phone (see the contacts page).  We can then discuss what you want, agree a price and make an appointment for a sitting.

2. What happens at a sitting?
A sitting will take around one to two hours.  During that time I will make one or more preliminary sketches and also take several digital photos to use as reference later.  The painting will be completed from these studies at my studio which keeps the inconvenience to the sitter to a minimum, especially important in the case of children.

3. Do I have to come to you or will you visit me?
This depends on your circumstances and which seems to make most sense.  I am happy to travel within a 50 mile radius of York and will consider requests from further afield.

4. Can't I just send you some photos?
I'm afraid not. A portrait is a painting of a person; a painting from a photo is just a reproduction of a photo in paint. While photographs taken at the sitting may be used as supplements to the artist's own observations, a camera cannot be a substitute for the artist's eye.
Having said that I am happy to make two exceptions:
1) Portraits of very, very young children (see the sleeping infants above).
2) Posthumous portraits.  Obviously in these sad circumstances there is no alternative other than to work from existing photos.  In these cases I need to spend some time talking to family and/or friends to get a feel for the subject's personality and the way in which they were seen by others.

5. What if I don't like it?
Portraits are intensely personal and, very rarely, may not reflect the subject's own self image.  In the unlikely event that you did not like the finished painting there would be no obligation to pay the final balance and take delivery (see terms and conditions for more information - link at the end of the page).  Please click here to read a sample of comments from delighted clients.

6. Will the painting be framed?
Expert framing can be arranged if required or the painting can be supplied unmounted for you to make your own arrangements.  If you opt for framing you will be asked to approve an image of the painting by post or email (or you can view it in person if you wish to visit) and make your final payment before the framer is instructed.

7.How much does it cost to commission a portrait?
The price of a commissioned painting will depend on the size and the number of sitters.  A price will be agreed with you before the sitting which will then only change if you change your specifications. 

Guide prices for single subject, head and shoulders - unframed watercolour:
 

For more than one subject, add approximately half the above prices for each additional sitter.  Please note that the smallest size is not suitable for more than one subject in the same painting.

Additional costs as applicable: artist's travel and accommodation for initial sitting, framing, delivery.

8. How long will it take?
Unlike oils, watercolour dries immediately so the only time factor is the time it takes actually to paint the portrait.  Portraits are usually completed within 2-4 weeks of the initial sitting which might be subject to a waiting list of some months.*  Please contact to discuss current schedules. 
*Next available sittings - Feb/Mar 2011.  (updated July 2010)