How it works 

ENQUIRE OR BOOK IN
Get in touch with me with your portrait or watercolour painting requirements. For portraits I will need to know how many subjects you would like painting, or for stationery projects I will send you a full project brief. I can then answer any questions you may have. Please check you agree to my terms and conditions for portrait use. I am usually booked up around 4 weeks in advance, but lead time can exceed 2-3 months around peak times in the lead up to Christmas. You can secure your booking date months in advance with just a 20% deposit. So if you can, please book in early to avoid disappointment. If you require your artwork for a specific date such as a birthday or anniversary, please get in touch and I will do my best to accommodate your order. Portraits make really emotional and thoughtful gifts, but this can be tricky if you don't have access to their photographs. Gift cards are perfect in this instance and can be purchased on request.

A CLEAR REFERENCE
For portraits please send me a clear and focussed, favourite photograph for reference. Please send it digitally in it's 'actual size' via email, direct message or WhatsApp so that I can zoom right in and capture all details in my painting. The higher quality the reference photograph, the more accurate I am able to get their features in their portrait painting! Photographs taken in natural light provide the best painted result, this enables me to accurately understand colour and identifying features. Up to three other photos are useful for general reference of colour, features and character, so that I can cross-reference and make sure I have captured all details accurately. 

If you already have a photograph in mind, send it for me to review and I will let you know if it’s suitable as a reference. If it's under sad circumstances where a pet has passed away and you are unable to get any further photos, then I can usually cross reference across photographs to find details which are otherwise a bit fuzzy.

SKETCH & PAINT
I will request the remaining balance payment to commence painting just before your booking date. Once payment is received I lightly sketch the outlines and use traditional watercolour techniques to build layers of paint to bring your portrait to life on paper. If it’s more than one subject, I mock up a digital composition with your photographs in Photoshop and send you a digital PDF composition proof so that we can check and approve layout before beginning any sketching on paper or hand painting. 

UPDATE & CHECK
Painting a portrait can take from one-two days for a small portrait, to over a week for multiple subject large portraits.  Throughout the process, I keep in touch. When I feel I am finished I send a photograph of the painting for you to check you are happy with the painting and for any small tweaks you would like me to make.*

POST OR COLLECT
Once approved by you, it is signed, carefully packaged with a care leaflet and posted to you in a postal box via Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed for £8.50. Clients are also welcome to collect in person from Stoney Stanton, which is in South Leicestershire.

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*extensive changes are chargeable at £30 per hour.