Portrait Information

Above you will see a few recent examples of portrait commissions to give you an idea of my style of work. Please also have a look through my gallery of sold work for inspiration on what might be possible for you regarding other subject matters.

For pet (or people) portraits, in order to create the absolute best likeness I will require good quality high resolution photographs. These work best in natural light - the eyes really are the windows to the soul and camera flash reflections are the enemy of the pet portrait artist so please don’t use a flash as it's important that the colour of the eyes and the fur is as clear and accurate as possible for me to do your animal justice. 

Ideally take the photo at eye level with the animal looking directly to the camera or side on. Alternatively it's possible to get a very sweet pose if your stand above and have them look up at you (adoringly!) Generally the portrait will be a head shot rather than a full body but we can discuss exactly what your requirements are if you decide to go ahead with a commissioned piece. Ultimately, you know your pet best and will be able to determine which pose most represents their personality and I will then work to capture the essence of your animal with every vibrant brushstroke. 

Gift Vouchers
If you would like to commission a painting as a gift but don't have any photographs of the recipients pet, I do offer gift vouchers in any denomination you would like so please get in touch to find out more. 

Other Commissioned Work
If it’s a landscape or cityscape you would like to commission then please ensure that you have the copyright for the photograph as I’m unable to paint from reference photos without permission from the original photographer.  Don’t worry if you don’t have your own photo of the subject though as it is possible to source copyright free images to work from if you have an idea in mind.

Payment and Postage
Please see the price list. For custom orders made directly through my website, I will require a 50% deposit with the remainder payable once you have approved the final image. Alternatively you can make payment in full via my Etsy Shop. The prices for each commission is based on the size of the canvas/paper so all you need to do is decide what you would like to have painted and what size you'd like it to be and we can take it from there. Just bear in mind that certain subjects will work better in a larger size depending on what you have in mind.

Some people like to see work in progress shots while others prefer to wait to see the finished piece so please just let me know your preferences.  Once the piece is completed and you are happy with it I will require the balance of the payment. All paintings are posted using either Royal Mail tracked or a courier service depending on the size and destination. Please note that  postage within the UK is free and, for other locations, I can give you an approximate figure based on the size of the painting and your location prior to commencing the commission. 

My contact email is artbynicolamclean@gmail.com to make payment by Paypal or for any further queries or if you prefer, simply order custom pet portraits via my Etsy Shop.
 
Thank you for your interest in my artwork and I hope we can work together to bring your commission to life.