Working to commission is always a privilege and a joy. I draw fine art portraits in pencil and pastel, creating something truly special from your photographs.
Commissioning a portrait is an exciting experience. It is an opportunity to have a truly original work of art which will be cherished for many years to come.
My portraits are typically drawings of people, dogs, cats and horses. You will find many examples of these in my gallery, alongside more unusual studies also.
A successful portrait is the result of a collaboration between the artist and the client, with the subject at the heart of every decision we make.
I draw all of my fine art portraits in pencil, pastel or coloured pencil. Which medium you choose is personal preference, though I will gladly advise if you are unsure as to what will suit your drawing best.
I always create with materials which are lightfast, and on acid free paper, to ensure your portrait looks perfect for the longest time.
Here are some examples of commissioned portraits of people and pets to inspire you.
Dog portraits in pencil include Lula in graphite, and Morse, is coloured pencil on black paper. And in pastel there is the gorgeous and very curly Mikey.
In my gallery of people portraits, Wakhan Girl is coloured pencil on toned paper, and Sasha is pastel. I drew Lisa and Danny, looking beautiful on their wedding day, in graphite pencil.
“Commissioning a portrait begins with a conversation - an opportunity to discuss what you would like, and how we can best achieve it.”
When choosing reference images for a portrait, there are two elements which are most important. The photographs should be as clear as possible, and they should capture the personality of your loved one.
Whether it is the playfulness of a puppy or the grandeur of your beloved parents, a portrait is as much about how it makes us feel as how it looks.
My passion is capturing the nature of my subject in all their beauty. To do this I work from photographs, meaning that no sitting is required. These can be digital images or old photos, depending on what you have available of your loved one.
Prices for commissions are calculated according to the complexity and size of the artwork. A portrait starts at £500 for pastel, and £700 for pencil. There may be additional cost for the inclusion of more than one subject or a detailed background.
Due to the high level of detail and realism in my art, each portrait takes many hours to create. As a guide, allow a minimum of six weeks from your initial enquiry to receiving your drawing.
Communication is key to ensuring that your portrait is everything you want it to be. I will share work in progress photos of the artwork with you as I am drawing it. This allows you to enjoy the process and to see how I work. And as a commission is a collaboration, it means that if any changes are required they can easily be included.
My commissioned portraits are professionally mounted and wrapped, all ready to be gifted or to be framed.
Additional options include fine art giclée prints and greetings cards so your portrait can be shared with your loved ones. Also available is a professional framing service if you would like to receive your artwork ready to hang.
Read my complete guide to commissioning a portrait, or contact me to start your personalised portrait journey.
My love of portraiture is inspired by my lifelong love of the natural world. I strive to take care of my environment and those whom I share it with, and this is reflected in my business ethics.
Living and working with sustainability in mind is very important to me. I explore some of the ways this influences my practice in this blog post.
One way I do this is to donate 10% of profits from each commissioned portrait to a local charity. My charity for 2024 is The Flicka Foundation Donkey Sanctuary in memory of my beautiful Gran, Dora.
In order to raise much needed funds for a local dog rescue, I am sketching dogs portraits in charcoal. These drawings are a looser style than my other work, and half of the proceeds from each portrait goes directly to Help 4 Hounds, making a real difference to dogs in need.
Read all about Bruno, the handsome hound who inspired this project, then get in touch to commission your charcoal sketch.
Prices for commissions are calculated according to the complexity and size of the artwork. A portrait starts at £500 for pastel, and £700 for pencil.
Due to the high level of detail and realism in my art, each portrait takes many hours to create. As a guide, allow a minimum of six weeks from your initial enquiry to receiving your drawing.
Communication is key, so to ensure that the portrait is everything you want it to be, I will share the development of the artwork with you as I am drawing it. This allows you to enjoy the process and see how I work, and means that if any changes are required they can easily be included.
