• Your photo must be pin sharp, well-lit and use the maximum resolution of your device.
• Natural light, either outside or by a large window indoors, is preferable.  Artificial light or camera flash will cause unnatural colours and reflections and should be avoided.
• Ideally the photo should be taken at eye-level and the head and shoulders should fill as much of the frame as possible.

Portrait Format

Square Format

• The above are guide prices for a portrait in pastel. The cost does not include a background which can be added for 25% of the total.
• Certain sizes will be unsuitable for multiple subjects and I will inform you in this regard.
• A 50% deposit is required in advance with the balance and shipping payable on completion and to your satisfaction.
• Accepted payment methods are – BACS, Stripe, PayPal.

FRAMING

• An optional framing and matting service is available once your portrait is complete.
• Prices start from around £30 for a 12 x 8 portrait.
• Turnaround time for framing is typically 7 days.

SHIPPING

• Shipping will be done via a fully-tracked and insured service.
• Prices start from £10 for UK delivery.  For international orders, please contact me for a quote.
• UK orders are delivered in 1-2 days, international orders are typically within 5-15 working days.

• How long will my portrait take?

Turnaround time depends on the size of your portrait.  For example, a 12 x 8 takes approximately one week.  Waiting times vary, and can be up to 3-4 weeks at busy times of year such as Christmas.  Please book early at these times to avoid disappointment.

If your portrait is a gift for a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary, I will do my best to fit you in before a given date.

• What kind of materials do you use?

I use professional-quality materials for all my drawings.  The main paper I use is called Clairefontaine Pastelmat which is an archival, acid-free, heavweight surface designed specifically for pastel.  This surface allows very fine detail and grips the pastel so well that no fixative is required to seal the drawing afterwards.

I use a variety of soft pastels from various manufacturers such as Royal Talens, Unison, Terry Ludwig and Sennelier. These are used primarily for initial layers in the drawing and for the background. I also use a wide variety of pastel pencils from Stabilo, Faber Castell and Caran d’Ache to name a few.  They are used to add fine detail and refinement on top of the intial soft pastel layers.

• Do you only draw animals?

I have a passion for drawing pets and wildlife but will be happy to tackle any subject from still-life to people to landscapes.  Please check my gallery to see some of my people portrait commissions.

• Do you do tutorials?

I worked in education for 17 years and have no immediate plans to produce any tutorials. I have made some time-lapse videos on my YouTube channel and post regular work-in-progress photos on my Instagram channel. I may consider workshops or one-to-one mentoring at some point in the future.