About Commissions

I love working closely with people to create something unique and special, whether it’s for them or someone they love. I get a lot of requests for commissioned paintings as gifts, and I love the idea of creating something personal that someone can give to a person who means a lot to them.

Every commission starts with an idea, a feeling, a place or a memory, and I love working together to bring that to life.

We’ll start with a few conversations about the colours, style and size you have in mind. I’ll ask you to share some of my paintings that you connect with, and what it is about them that you love. This helps me understand what draws you to my work and what you’d like to bring into your own piece.

You might have a more specific idea in mind, too. For example:

“A 50 × 70 cm waterfall painting, with my sister floating peacefully in the water. I’d love soft light coming through the clouds, with blues and greens as the main colours.”

For something like this, it would be lovely to see some photos of your sister and hear a little about her, or the meaning behind the painting. The more I understand the person, place or feeling you want to capture, the more personal we can make the artwork.

You can also commission a painting inspired by one of my existing works, ask for a different size, or adapt an idea to suit a particular space in your home.

Once we have a clearer idea of what you’d like, I’ll put together a sketch and write up a brief agreement outlining what we’ve discussed, including the size, materials, price and expected timeframe.

This is the time to look over the sketch and let me know if there’s anything you’d like to change before I begin painting. Once you’re happy with the direction and everything is agreed, I’ll ask for a deposit to secure the commission and get started.

This is where I get to bring everything together and start painting.

I don’t usually send regular photos of the process. I used to do this a lot, but I’ve realised I work best when I can get into the painting and let it develop naturally. It can be difficult to explain what I have in mind while a painting is still taking shape, and the unfinished stages can sometimes look a little questionable! I’d rather share the work when it’s closer to becoming what I imagined.

Of course, if you’d like to see how it’s coming along, just let me know. I’m always happy to share a little glimpse of the process.

When I feel the painting is nearly finished, I’ll send you photos and videos so you can see how it has come together. At this stage, there’s room for any small adjustments we’ve agreed to make.

Once we’re both happy with the final piece, I’ll ask you to pay the remaining balance, and we can arrange delivery or collection.

Delivery costs are usually separate from the price of the painting and will depend on the size of the artwork and where it’s going. We can discuss the best option for getting your painting to you safely.

Every painting is unique. I try not to recreate previous paintings exactly. Even when a commission is inspired by an existing piece, I want the finished artwork to have its own character.

Timeframes. A commission usually takes around 4–8 weeks to complete, although this can vary depending on the size, complexity and materials required. If you have a particular date in mind, especially if the painting is a gift, please let me know from the beginning so we can work out what’s possible.

Materials. Sometimes I’ll need to order specific materials or a canvas in your chosen size. If this is the case, I’ll factor in the time needed for these to arrive before I can begin.

Making changes. We’ll discuss the main details before I start painting, and I’ll make sure we’re happy with the direction before moving forward. Small adjustments can be discussed when I share the nearly finished piece, but significant changes to the original idea may affect the price and timeframe.

A little trust in the process. While I’ll always listen carefully to what you have in mind, part of commissioning an original painting is allowing me the creative freedom to interpret your ideas in my own way. This is what makes the finished piece personal to you while still being my work.

If you have an idea you’d love to explore, even if you’re not quite sure how to put it into words yet, I’d love to hear about it. We can work it out together!!