Commission FAQs & Terms

Does sending an enquiry mean my commission is booked?

No. An enquiry is just the starting point. I’ll have a look at your idea, reference photos and what you’d like from the finished piece, then let you know whether it’s something I can take on. Once we’ve agreed the details and I’ve received the 50% deposit, your piece is officially booked into my diary.

What reference photos do you need?

A clear primary photo is the most important thing. It should show the subject well enough for me to see the features, colours and details I’ll need to work from. Extra photos can be useful too, especially if they show markings, expressions or angles that aren’t obvious in the main image. If I don’t think the references give me enough to work with, I’ll ask for something clearer before I accept the piece.

How long will my commission take?

Most pieces are finished within 2–4 weeks of pencil approval, depending on my workload and how involved the artwork is. I’ll give you a likely timescale before you book, but it’s an estimate rather than a guarantee. If anything changes while I’m working on your piece, I’ll let you know as soon as I can.

How does the 50% deposit work?

Once we’ve agreed the size, price and details of your piece, I’ll ask for a 50% deposit by PayPal or bank transfer. This secures your place in my diary and I won’t begin work until it’s been received. The remaining 50% is due once I’ve sent you photos of the finished artwork and before I send it out to you.

What happens if I need to cancel?

If you need to cancel, please let me know as soon as you can. Any refund of your deposit will depend on how far I’ve got with the work and any costs I’ve already incurred. If I haven’t started your piece yet, I’ll refund whatever part of the deposit hasn’t been needed to cover those costs. If I ever need to cancel the job myself, you’ll receive a full refund of anything you’ve paid.

What if I decide not to go ahead once the artwork is finished?

Once the finished artwork is complete, I’ll send you photos before the remaining payment is due. I won’t send the original until the balance has been paid. If you decide not to complete the purchase at that stage and there isn’t a genuine problem with the artwork, I’ll treat it as a cancellation. Any amount I keep will reflect the work already completed, materials used and any other reasonable losses involved.

When is the final payment due?

I’ll send you photos of the finished artwork once it’s complete. If you’re happy with everything, the remaining 50% is due by PayPal or bank transfer before I package and send the piece to you.

Can I make changes to the drawing?

Yes. I’ll send you the pencil drawing before any ink or paint goes down, and one minor revision is included at this stage. This is the best time to flag any small changes you’d like me to make, because once the drawing is approved and I move on to the finished artwork, larger changes may affect the price or timescale. I’ll always discuss that with you first.

What happens after I approve the pencil drawing?

Once you’ve approved the pencil drawing, I’ll move on to the final ink and watercolour work. At that stage, larger changes will often mean starting the piece again from scratch and using new paper and materials, so they may involve an additional cost and a longer timescale. If that happens, I’ll always discuss it with you before going any further.

How will my artwork be delivered?

Your artwork will be packed carefully in a protective sleeve with backing support and sent in rigid packaging to help keep it safe in transit. UK delivery is included in the price, and I’ll send it by Royal Mail tracked delivery so you can follow its journey once it’s on the way.

Do you deliver outside the UK?

Not at the moment. I’m keeping commissions UK-only for now so I can keep delivery simple and make sure each piece is properly tracked from me to you. I may look at international delivery in the future, but for now I’m sticking to the UK.

What happens if my artwork is lost or damaged?

If your artwork arrives damaged, or the tracking suggests it’s been lost in transit, please get in touch with me as soon as you can. I’ll look into it with Royal Mail and work with you to put things right. Depending on the circumstances, that may mean repainting the piece, arranging a refund or finding another suitable solution.

Will my artwork be framed?

No. Your artwork will arrive unframed, so you can choose something that suits both the piece and the space you have in mind. A5 and A4 are standard sizes, which should make finding a suitable frame nice and easy.

Can I return the finished artwork?

Because each piece is made specifically for you, I can’t normally accept a return or offer a refund simply because you’ve changed your mind once you’ve received the finished artwork. You’ll have approved the pencil drawing before I begin the final piece, and I’ll send you photos of the completed work before the remaining payment is due.

Of course, if there’s a genuine problem with what you receive, or it arrives damaged, get in touch and I’ll work with you to put it right. This doesn’t affect your statutory rights.

Who owns the copyright?

Once you’ve paid in full, the original artwork is yours to keep, display and enjoy. I’ll retain the copyright unless we’ve agreed otherwise in writing, which means you’re welcome to share photos of the piece for personal use, but please don’t reproduce it for sale, make prints or merchandise from it, or use it commercially without asking me first.

Can I order prints of my commission?

Sure! I’ll keep a high-quality scan of the finished artwork, so if you’d like additional prints for yourself or as gifts, just ask. I can produce them for an additional charge, which I’ll confirm with you before anything is printed.

Will you share my commission online?

I may share finished pieces on my website or social media as examples of my work, but I won’t include any personal information without your permission. If the artwork is a surprise gift, or you’d simply rather I didn’t post it, just let me know. I’m always happy to keep it private or wait until after a particular date before sharing it.