Private Commissions

I love hearing about my subject before I paint them. It’s nice to have an idea of their character and quirks. My approach is to portray each animal or person in a way that reflects their individuality, working from high-resolution photographs so I can study my subject closely.

Choosing the right photograph

When you commission a portrait, I’ll ask you to send me a selection of your favourite digital photographs. Before I begin, I make sure the photograph in front of me will result in a successful piece of art. Sometimes photographs, however lovely, aren’t suitable to work from. If that’s the case, I’ll share some example images and simple guidelines on what makes an ideal reference, so you know exactly what to look for before taking a few more shots. The process is simple and straightforward.

Prices

All portraits are painted on stretched canvas. Prices start at £750.

A2 (approx. 420 × 594mm)
One subject (an animal or a person): £1,250
More than one subject: £1,550

A1 (approx. 594 × 841mm)
One subject (an animal or a person): £2,100
More than one subject: £2,750

The A-sizes are a guide to scale rather than fixed dimensions. Each canvas is chosen to suit the composition, so your portrait may be square, wider or taller than the standard format, with a similar overall area. We’ll agree the final size and shape before work begins.

The Study

A Study is a more intimate portrait of a single subject, focusing on character and expression. Each one is a head-and-shoulders composition set against a plain, atmospheric background, painted on a 16 × 20 inch (or similar size) stretched canvas. The composition is my own, guided by the photographs you send me, so that each Study has the same depth and quality as my larger works. Studies are £750. You can see an example of a Study here: Fidget.

The Dark Works

Works from The Dark Works series are unique narrative compositions: heavily staged, deeply atmospheric, and demanding significant studio hours to achieve their characteristic depth. These independent studio pieces are offered for sale as and when they become available. If you would like to commission a highly detailed bespoke work in this style (A1 or larger canvas), prices start at £3,850.

Payment and timings

No payment is taken until we’ve chosen the photograph I’ll work from. I’ll then confirm the details with you in writing (size, price and the direction of the piece), give you an estimated time frame for completion, and ask for a 50% deposit before I begin. You’re welcome to choose whether you’d like to see a progress photo along the way or would rather have a surprise reveal. I’ll keep you updated if anything changes. The balance is due on completion, before the portrait is delivered.

Because each portrait is created to your individual specification, the deposit is non-refundable once work has begun. This does not affect your statutory rights.

Prices reflect the bespoke nature of each piece and may change with current studio demand. The price agreed when you commission is the price you pay.

Get in touch

If you’re interested in commissioning a portrait, please email me at betsy@betsybradford.art. I would love to hear from you.