Commissioning a Painting

Portrait of Mike Elford of Cornwall, with the moonlit view from his home, featuring Looe Island, the lights of West Looe and Hannafore in the background, and his beloved shire horses looking on.

This was a commission, painted in 2010.

If you wish to commission a painting, a portrait, a landscape, or a combination of the two, please don't hesitate to contact me so we can discuss what may be done.

If you have not already looked through the images of portraits in my online gallery, you might like to click here.

'Lulu and Ella' oil on canvas, each 5" x 6"

    "The portraits arrived today and they are stunning! I thought they were fantastic over email, but in the flesh they are even more lovely (which I did't think possible!). Thank you so very much. Ella looked at her portrait and said 'WOW Mummy, that's me!'. Lulu started flapping her arms around which is her sign of high approval. Thank you also for taking such great care in wrapping and sending them. They arrived completely intact and in great shape (even though the box looked like it took a bit of a beating)."

These kind words were from the mother of the two girls I painted recently.

The portraits, shown above, were painted from photos supplied by the client,

and were shipped to America on completion.

 Long periods of posing are not necessary. I can work from a client's own photos, though I do prefer to take the photographs myself wherever possible.  I can then inform the portrait with my own response to the individual, resulting in an image that could not be arrived at mechanically.

I like to capture an expression or even a movement that would be so fleeting that working from life couldn't catch it. This is especially true where children are concerned.

There are any number of sizes, mediums, supports, and formats that may be appropriate for your requirements. These result in a very wide range of prices, but it is possible to give a rough guide so you might have an idea of what to expect.

Portrait Commission

Price Guide 2012

(first price rises since 2006)

For an oil painting

 on canvas laid on board

4.5” x 6” -  £250

10” x 12” -  £470

12” x 16” -  £650

on stretched canvas

18” x 24”  - £1050

  24" x 36" - £1850

larger sizes on application

For a watercolour painting

 on 300gsm NOT watercolour paper

4.5” x 6”  - £180

10” x 12”  - £340

12” x 16”  - £520

For a pencil drawing

 on 300gsm hot pressed paper

or heavy cartridge paper

4.5” x 6”  - £90

10” x 12”  - £170

12” x 16” -  £260

Terms:- half in advance, half on completion.

Delivery/shipping and framing to be arranged extra.