Frequently Asked Questions
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I would like to commission a painting or drawing, what's my first step? If you are local to us, you are more than welcome to telephone to discuss your needs. We are usually available in the studio most days of the week from 10am till about 6pm. If you are further afield, you can email us your requirements and we will try to give you our professional advice as to what would be best for your needs. Often a good starting point is to work out what your budget is. If you are commissioning a painting or drawing as a gift, and family are getting together on costs, work out how much each will be paying and we can go from there. There is plenty of choice and we can cover most budgets. |
| Do you work from photos or real life? We always work from photos. We always return hard copies of photos with the finished artwork. top |
| Can I email images?
Yes, sending your photographs to me via email is the safest option, and quickest. If you are sending digital images, please send them in a jpeg format at the highest resolution. top |
| How many photos should I send? The more photographs you can send the better. We work from one main photograph for all subjects however do like to have others to refer to. If you are commissioning for an animal portrait, please indicate which photograph best represents your pet, and which you would like me to work from. Also let me know which depicts his/her true colouring. The more information we have, the more we have to work from. top |
| What quality of photograph do you need?
The better the quality of photograph, then the better the finished painting or drawing will be. Photographs should be clear, in focus with the subject occupying the majority of the frame. Photographs showing subjects in the distance aren't usually good enough to work from. top |
| What are the differences between mediums? We create portraits in graphite pencil, pastel, and oils. To help you decide and give you more information on each medium we have small explanations of these on the mediums page. top |
| Can I have a background? Yes, backgrounds can be completed in all mediums. top |
| I would like two subjects in one painting. Can you work from two separate photos and combine into one?
Yes, even if you would like five or six children in the same portrait its always best to photograph them individually. If you can photograph them using the same light source this would be helpful. top |
| Can I see my portrait before you send it to me? Yes, On completion of your portrait I will email a photograph or scan to you for your approval. Oil portraits can also be viewed at various stages as it progresses on the work in progress pages. top |
| How much will my portrait cost?
There are many options and you can see a price guide on the prices page. If you would like to discuss your needs please email us for a quote. top |
When do I pay? All portraits that are ordered online are paid for upfront via our secure online payment system. Local clients can either pay by credit card on our website or pay with a cheque or cash if they are visiting. top |
| Is Postage & Packing included in the prices?
Obviously the college needs to plan the allocation of work to our course artists carefully to ensure they are able to give each student personal attention and support. If students enroll and then "disappear" for a long period, it can cause problems when they suddenly reappear - sometimes years later. For this reason we do ask students to keep in touch when, for whatever reason, they need to take a break from their studies. The College will always grant an extension up to two years, at no additional cost, to enable a student who is clearly committed to their course, the time they need to complete it. top |
| Is snail mail a safe way of handling my valuable art work?
Yes. Postage and packaging is free worldwide and local clients can either pick their portrait up or if close by we can sometimes deliver depending on the distance. top |
| How is my painting or drawing sent?
Artwork is be securely packaged with bubblewrap and gallery standard packaging. UK parcels are delivered using Royal Mail's Special Delivery service, and any overseas parcels are sent via International Signed For. top |
| Are paintings and drawings framed?
We are unable to frame portraits however we can recommend a variety of framers in our local area. We feel that framing is a personal choice and clients like to choose according to taste and home décor. top |
Can I order a Gift Certificate or gift voucher?
 Yes, you can either have a gift certificate to present in hand, or we create gift voucher webpages which include photos of your pets/animals/subject, messages from friends and family, message from either myself or nick, all in a safe and secure area that is password protected. For more information please don't hesitate to email. top |
| Can I use my painting or drawing for my business, or print it for friends and family? We retain the reproduction rights on all of our original art work. You hold the copyright on your photo that we work from, however we retain the copyright on the artwork created from that image. If you are looking to commission a piece of artwork for business use, please contact us to discuss your options. We also have printing facilities in the studio and you can order prints of your portrait for family and friends at any time. top |
| Will you be displaying our painting or drawing on your web site? Yes, the majority of our work will be displayed on our website. If clients are unhappy about their painting or drawing being displayed on the website, they must let us know in the terms from upon ordering. top |
| Who offers me advice, help and guidance when I need it?
Our carefully written courses cover much the same areas as might be covered by your local college. However, unlike your local college, home study means that you work entirely from home, completely in your own time and without ever having to attend classes or lectures. Each course is supplied complete in itself. top |