THE PROCESS

I mainly work from photographs as I don’t like to expose children or babies to the oil toxins and fumes of the studio. It also makes sense in the times we live.

I ask for a number of photographs from which to work; the more source material I have the more I am able to capture the little ones’ character.

The paintings usually take me 3-4 weeks depending on my childcare, lead time etc. There should then be drying time and framing (if requested) factored in.

Paintings start at £500 for all work under 30x30cm. This can be paid in instalments or in full, on completion. Paintings above 30x30cm are £800-1200 depending on whether there are multiple figures.

For the smaller paintings I choose the scale and stretcher, responding to the composition and what I think will work best.

Framing is an additional cost.

Your child, grandchild, niece, nephew or godchild’s portrait can then be delivered.

PHOTOGRAPH GUIDANCE

Images need to be high quality, preferably taken indoors, with clear natural light. 

Ideally images should capture real moments - but if they are posed, have the subject pose next to a window with a plain expression. When a person smiles they are reacting to a fleeting thought or moment; a painting, on the other hand, has a timeless quality and does not accommodate grinning subjects well.

Additionally, posing next to a window can create a contrast between light and dark across the face which is good for picking out facial structure and assists my artistic process.

Ideally everything should be in proportion, within a normal perspective, such that limbs or faces are not stylistically enlarged or significantly distorted.

Portrait mode on an iPhone, or any other automatic filters, should be avoided where possible.

Please feel free to contact me to talk through any ideas.