commission a portrait drawing from your photographs

Graphite pencil is my favourite medium. It allows me to create portraits with remarkable delicacy, subtlety, and softness, capturing both fine detail and each subject's unique character.

For a typical head-and-shoulders portrait, I focus the greatest level of detail on the face, hair, and neck, allowing the drawing to become looser around the shoulders and upper body. This approach naturally draws the viewer's attention to the face, and especially the eyes, which often reveal the most about a person's personality.

When you commission a portrait, I like to learn a little about the person I'm drawing. Understanding something of their character helps me create a portrait that captures more than just a likeness; it reflects something of who they are.

I work on heavyweight fine art paper made from 100% cotton fibres rather than wood pulp. This quality paper is archival and will not yellow with age. Using Faber-Castell graphite pencils in a range of grades from HB to the rich, velvety softness of 8B, I build each portrait layer by layer to achieve depth, contrast, and subtle tonal variation.

Once the drawing is complete, I apply a specialist fixative to protect the graphite, then carefully package the artwork in a protective sleeve. This ensures it arrives safely and can be handled without damage until it is professionally framed.

how to get started

If you're considering a portrait, I'd be delighted to hear from you. Feel free to get in touch with any questions or to request a quote. I'm always happy to chat, with absolutely no obligation.

If you decide to commission a portrait, we'll discuss your ideas by phone or email, including the size, composition, pose, and any other details you'd like to include.

The next step is selecting reference photographs. I recommend taking several images that show the subject from slightly different angles and with a variety of expressions. Together, we'll choose the strongest photograph as the primary reference for the portrait.

For the best results, I recommend using a high-quality digital camera rather than a phone camera whenever possible. The image should be well-lit, sharp, and close enough to show clear facial detail.

Once you've gathered some photographs, simply email them to me. Choosing the right reference image is an important part of the process, and it's quite normal for us to discuss several options before settling on the final choice. Taking the time to get this right makes all the difference to the finished portrait.

For most commissions, a deposit of one-third of the total cost is requested before work begins. Once we've agreed on the reference photograph and all the details, I'll begin creating your portrait.