portrait Tips

I often work from photos like the one here. Send me a few choices and we can discuss what works best together.  Tips on choosing can be seen below.

I’m also happy to come and meet the people or view I’m painting. In this case I’ll make some sketches, and take photos to work from back in the studio. I love images with movement and a bit of a story in them. 

Several of my commissions have been surprise birthday or anniversary presents. If you have a special date in mind, please let me know. I ideally need a minimum of 4 weeks to work on a picture, but have done quicker, so it’s worth asking!

I'm UK based, but take commissions from international customers, so when you get in touch, let me know where you are in the world.

I highly recommend framing the oil pastel works and can suggest a local framers, or alternatively online lower priced frames that work well.

Oil pastels on corrugated cardboard.  

choosing your photo

If you’re having a portrait made, see if you have a photo where the subjects are not all posing and facing the camera.  A snapshot of someone engaged in an activity, or interacting with other people, can be great as a piece of art.

If you have several versions of an image that you like but no perfect one, it may be possible for me to combine them (this can be useful if different faces are better in each photo).

Don't worry too much about background when choosing as it’s not the focus and I often don’t include it.  

what medium?

Choose between an oil painting on canvas or an oil pastel drawing on canvas board or corrugated cardboard.  Have a look at the notes below each picture in the PORTRAITS section to see the effect of different mediums.

what size?

Have a think about what size you'd like your picture to be.  It’s helpful to specify size limit if it needs to fit in a particular space. Again, look at sizes in the PORTRAITS section to give you an idea of what might be suitable.