Commissions

As much as my paintings are very affordable as oil paintings go, I am aware that it can still be a lot of money for those with a tight budget. To enable more people to get their pets captured in originally produced artwork I also offer a sketch range of artwork. 

Simply get in touch with me and then send me a suitable photo of your pet and the size you want. Drawings are done using graphite on A4 or A5 thick paper - these standard size enables the drawings to be easily framed. A4 is approximately 29.7 x 21 cm or 11.7 x 8.3 inches. A5 is half that at 21 x 14.8 cm or 8.3 x 5.8 inches. 

Please also take the time to read the terms and conditions.

Check list: What I need from you

•  A photograph or two

• Size of portrait required (A4 or A5) 

• Let me know if you are collecting or paying in person so this can be arranged

• Your contact and shipping details (so I can get in touch and post the item)

Prices

• A5 sketch (including delivery) - £30

• A4 sketch (including delivery) - £40

Local to me?

If you live locally to me in East Kent and are able to collect then it is even cheaper for you! A5 sketches £25, A4 sketches £35. When your sketch is done I'll let you know and you can arrange a time for collection. Special requests for larger sizes may also be possible if collecting.

A painting is a great long-lasting way to capture your pet's personality. Great care and time is put into each portrait to create a lovely keepsake of your pet. 

If you would like to have a painting commissioned of your pet please contact me using the form or by directly by e-mail. I will need to know what size you want and background type for the painting.  Loose colour backgrounds can be a good way to showcase your pet whilst not detracting from them (if you have a preference for a colour let me know). More detailed backgrounds, such as your pet running through grass, in water, or in a working scene may be important to convey your pet's character and can also be created but will take more time and therefore will cost a little more. By providing me this information I will be able to give a quote for the cost of the painting.

Please also include one or more large photographs of your pet by e-mail and let me know if you have any preference for a photo you would like me to work from. Advice for photographing your pet and what to send can be found here. I will only accept the commission as long as I feel the photographs are good enough for me to create a good painting of your pet and will reject photographs that are blurry or otherwise unsuitable.

I require a 50% non-refundable deposit of the total painting price (excluding shipping) before starting - this is to cover the material and time costs that I incur as part of the painting process. This can be paid in person by cash, bank transfer or I will invoice you through PayPal which you can then pay through a credit/debit card or a PayPal account. 

Expect the painting process to take 5-8 weeks as oils are slow to dry and each layer of paint needs to dry before I paint the next. When I feel the painting is complete I will contact you with a few photographs. If you are happy with the painting I will request the remainder of the balance plus shipping (calculated by its packaged weight and size). Otherwise I can make adjustments as necessary if you feel some small changes are needed. Your painting will then be carefully packaged and sent to you fully tracked by Royal Mail's Special Delivery service. If you are local to me you may choose to collect the painting instead of having it shipped.

Please take the time to read and understand the Terms and Conditions before ordering.

Prices & Sizes

Oil paint is a slow-drying and traditional medium in which many hours are spent to create detailed paintings, as such they do take a while to complete. Once a deposit has been received it will take approximately five to eight weeks to complete your painting depending on the level of detail needed. I try to keep my prices affordable so more people are able purchase original oil paintings of their pets.

Price List

• 12 by 10 inches £180 (with a detailed background £190)

• 14 by 10 inches £195 (with a detailed background £210)

• 16 by 12 inches £240 (with a detailed background £265)

Paintings with detailed backgrounds will take a longer time to produce.

Payment

Payments can be made by bank transfer, through PayPal or in cash. PayPal is a well-recognised secure method of payment and you do not need a PayPal account to pay just your debit/credit card. You will be sent an invoice via PayPal to your e-mail so you can make your payment. If you live locally you may want to pay in person by cash, you will receive a paper invoice instead.

Packaging & Delivery

If you are able to pick the painting up in person, collection can be arranged at no additional cost otherwise your painting will be packaged securely and mailed using Royal Mail's fully tracked Special Delivery by 1pm. Postage is payable in addition to the painting cost, to get an idea of prices please visit Royal Mail's website for more information.

To keep your painting safe in transit they are carefully packed. First the painting is coated in retouching varnish to protect the paint surface - this is a temporary varnish designed to be used when the paint is 'touch dry' and a permanent varnish should be used at a later date. The painting is then wrapped in brown paper and the corners of the canvas protected with cardboard covers. It is wrapped in bubblewrap and sandwiched in hardboard before another layer of bubblewrap and is finally boxed in corrugated cardboard.

Looking after your painting

On collection of your painting you will want to have your painting hung and perhaps framed. I do not ship artwork framed or hung as this makes artwork more vulnerable to damage during shipping.  Hanging your picture can be done simply using a picture cord or string and hooks which screw into the back of the painting.

If you would like to have your painting framed I recommend visiting a framer to get a custom frame made as the size and depth of canvasses can make standard sizes of frame harder to come by. Custom framing also enables you to choose a style and colour of frame that you like best and that suits the décor of your home. Please note that oil paintings should NOT be framed under glass as this can stick to and damage the paint surface.

To protect your painting from damage you may want to use a permanent varnish.  It is recommended that oil paintings should NOT be varnished with a permanent varnish until they are 6 months old to avoid damage as wet paint can remain under the surface and may possibly take this long to dry. Varnishes can be bought from a local art store or online and simply brushed or sprayed onto the canvas. Generally matt varnishes are seen as better suited to darker paintings and glossy varnishes on lighter ones; satin varnishes are generally suitable for either. Also remember it is best to keep any artwork out of direct sunlight.

Your painting may be shipped with small wooden pieces called canvas keys. These are designed to be pushed into the stretcher bar corners at the back of the canvas to keep the canvas surface stretched should it loosen over time. If using the keys the canvas surface can be tightened by carefully and gently hammering or pushing the keys in at the corners. Canvasses can also be tightened by spraying a fine mist of water on the back.

Important note on Christmas Commissions

Please bear in mind that the paintings take at least a few weeks to create so don't leave it until mid-November or December to order. If you are interested in commissioning an oil painting for Christmas make sure there is enough time for not only the painting to be completed to your satisfaction and dry, but also for the communication at the start of the process to get the necessary sizing, pricing and photographic references. The FIRST WEEK OF NOVEMBER is the latest I can accept commissions for Christmas so you're not left disappointed.