Everything you need before you commission.
Plain-English guides to choosing a photograph, picking a style, deciding on a size, understanding what you'll pay, and what to expect from a hand-painted oil commission.
Styles · 9 min read
Renaissance portraits: what defines the style, and having one painted from a photo
What defines a Renaissance portrait — the three-quarter turn, the even light, the hands, the costume — and how the style is painted from your own photograph.
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Buying · 9 min read
Pet portrait prices in the UK: from a £15 digital file to hand-painted oil
Pet portrait cost in the UK, rung by rung: a £15 digital file, a £60 print, a £220 to £549 hand-painted oil — and what physically arrives at each price.
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Commissioning · 9 min read
How to Commission a Painting: The Whole Process, Explained
What actually happens when you commission a painting from a photograph — the routes open to you, the process step by step, and the questions to ask before you pay.
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Buying · 9 min read
Oil Painting Commission Prices UK (2026): What a Custom Painting From a Photo Costs, by Subject and Size
Oil painting commission prices in the UK, size by size: £220 to £549, plus from £59 per extra person or pet. Pet, family, wedding and memorial costs compared.
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Commissioning · 9 min read
What Photo to Send for a Portrait Painting: The Checklist We Use
What photo to send for a portrait painting: the exact checks our painters run before quoting — resolution, light, angle, eyes and crop, with the fix for each.
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Styles · 9 min read
Portrait Painting Styles: Which One to Choose for Your Commission
Portrait painting styles compared: classical realism, Sargent, Renoir, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Klimt and Renaissance. Which one suits your photo and your room.
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Buying · 9 min read
Oil Painting Sizes Explained: The Size Ladder, What Each Looks Like on a Wall, and Which Subject Needs Which
Oil painting sizes from 12 × 16in to 36 × 48in, compared against A-sizes and real furniture, with the size a single face, a family of five or a horse needs.
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Subjects · 9 min read
Renaissance Dog Portraits: Your Dog as a Duke, Admiral or General
How a Renaissance dog painting is made from a phone photograph: which costume suits which breed, the photo detail that matters, sizes and prices from £220.
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Buying · 9 min read
Hand-Painted Oil Painting Reproductions vs Giclée vs Canvas Prints: What You Are Paying For
A canvas print of a Monet costs about £30; hand-painted oil painting reproductions start at £129. What each is made of, how long it lasts, how to tell them apart.
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