How Much Does a Portrait Commission Cost?

If you’re thinking about commissioning a portrait, cost is usually the first question. Here’s a breakdown of what affects the cost of a portrait commission with me, so you know what to expect before you get in touch.

My current prices

These are starting prices for a single head-and-shoulders portrait in either pencil or oils.
• Pencil portrait — from £600
• Oil portrait — from £800

• Marble or bronze — price on request, depending on scale and complexity. Marble portraits can take a couple of months to carve.

if you’re asking yourself how much does it cost to commission a portrait, there are a few factors involved.

What affects the cost of a portrait commission

Size. The starting prices indicate a portrait head on paper or canvas, roughly A4 size. A larger canvas or panel takes more time and materials, so price scales with dimensions.
How many people (or pets) are in the portrait. A double or family portrait costs more than a single figure, since each additional person adds significant working time — composing multiple likenesses convincingly together is a different job to painting one.
Medium. Pencil is generally the most accessible starting point, but my work in pencil is for me as rigorous and challenging as oil painting, given the crosshatching style I work in. The starting prices are in fact similar and reflect the fact the labour can be similar. Oil can take longer if painted using the glazing technique — built up in glazes over a grisaille underpainting, which is a slower, multi-stage process rather than a single sitting. Marble and bronze are priced individually, since materials and casting/carving costs vary a lot project to project.
Working from a sitting vs. photographs. Where possible, I like at least one live sitting alongside reference photos. This doesn’t necessarily change price, but it affects timeline and may involve travel if you’re not local to Devon.
Framing. Frames are quoted separately, since the right frame depends on the piece and where it’ll hang. I have a very good framer I use and would be happy to put you in touch with them so the portrait can be framed before shipping. Some clients I have worked with like to use their own framers. It can be useful to see the finished article in the round before deciding on a frame.
What’s included
Every commission includes discussion of composition and pose, progress updates as the piece develops, and the opportunity for feedback before the work is finished. I want you to be genuinely happy with the result, which is why I consider portrait painting to also be a collaboration between us. I’ll continually update you at every stage and you will be able to request changes and offer feedback throughout.
Timeline
It’s all dependent on the composition. Plan for several weeks to a few months depending on my current workload and the complexity of the piece. I’ll give you a realistic estimate for your specific commission when we discuss it. I am able to work quickly but this all depends on my workload.
Getting a personal quote
Because so much depends on size, medium, and subject, the best way to find out how much a portrait costs for your specific idea is to get in touch directly with a description of what you have in mind — including how many figures, roughly what size, and whether you’re drawn to pencil, oil, or sculpture. I would be happy to talk through options and find something that fits your budget. You can find a full price list and contact me on the commission a portrait page.