Oil Painted Portrait

Oil Painted Portrait Commission

I’ve been oil painting for over ten years now. I work in layers, which takes time, but that’s part of why I like it. It’s how oil paint holds light and skin tone in a way other mediums don’t. An oil painted portrait isn’t a quick job, and that’s really the point of it.

How Commissioning Works

Pop your reference photo into the form near the bottom of this page, then head through checkout, it only takes a minute or two. I’ll email you shortly after to confirm the details before I pick up a brush.

A few past oil commissions

See more finished portraits →

Sizes and pricing

A5 is £100. A4 is £175. Larger sizes or multiple subjects are available, just get in touch for a quote. I usually have a piece finished within about two weeks of receiving your photo, and I keep close to that. If you’re working to a tighter deadline, just mention it when you get in touch and I’ll let you know honestly whether it’s doable.

Why oil, and why realism

My own style leans toward surrealism, but with an oil painted portrait commission I use realism and composition skills to move away from that, in a sense. What I’m after isn’t just a likeness, it’s trying to get at the qualities of a moment that stay with you, the kind of thing that imprints on memory. A portrait, done right, works a bit like reminiscence does.

How the process works

Step 1, upload your photo: use the form near the bottom of this page to send me your reference image, ideally one with good lighting so I can read the tone and form properly.

Step 2, check out: choose your size and complete your order, the same as any other purchase on the site.

Step 3, I’m in touch: I’ll email you within a day or two to confirm details before I begin. I paint in layers, building the piece up over several sessions rather than in one go, and I’ll check in partway through if there’s anything specific about the likeness or mood you’d like me to get right, so we’re not adjusting after it’s already finished.

Materials and framing

I paint on canvas board, and each piece comes framed and ready to hang. I keep the framing simple, usually a plain wood or black frame, so the painting itself stays the focus rather than the frame competing with it.

The story behind a real commission

If you’d like to see how a commission actually unfolds, from first photo to finished piece, I wrote about one in George Baker and His Dad, a trois crayon piece, but the process is much the same.

Common questions

What kind of photo should I send?
Clear, well lit, and reasonably high resolution. If the photo’s too dark or blurry I’ll ask for another before I start, since the painting can only be as good as the reference.

Can I commission a pet, or more than one person?
Yes, though it’ll need a custom quote rather than the standard price above.

How is the portrait delivered?
Framed and packaged securely. I post within the UK as standard and can arrange international shipping on request.

Do you ship internationally?
Yes. Get in touch if you’re outside the UK for a shipping estimate before commissioning.

Start Your Commission

Step 1: fill out the form below with a clear reference photo. Step 2: head to checkout. I’ll email you to confirm details before I begin.

Photo tip: good, even lighting with minimal harsh shadow gives the best result, the piece can only be as good as the reference it’s painted from. If you’re unsure, feel free to send a couple of options.

If you want something similar at a lower price point, I also do trois crayon portraits in charcoal and sanguine. Or have a look through my portraits page to see more of the oil work before commissioning your own oil painted portrait.