Bespoke Painting Commissions

Painting Commissions Tailored to your Requirements

When you commission a painting from me, it's all about creating something that feels truly personal to you. I take the time to understand your ideas and vision so that the artwork reflects your taste and fits beautifully into your space. For me, painting the sea, for example, is not just about technique, but about capturing its energy and tranquillity in a way that brings both beauty and a sense of calm.

Art as the Focal Point of Your home

Each bespoke piece I create is one of a kind, and I put great care into every detail. Many of my clients tell me that their painting becomes not only a focal point in their home but also something deeply meaningful to them. I love the thought that these works can be treasured for years to come.

Artwork that Resonates with your Personal Style

Commissioning a high-end luxury bespoke painting from a professional contemporary maritime and seascape artist offers a unique blend of personalization and artistic skill and care. Each piece is meticulously crafted to reflect your individual vision, ensuring that the artwork resonates with your personal style. My many years of thoughtful practice, attention to detail and expertise in capturing the dynamic beauty of the sea, especially in my yacht paintings, brings a sense of sophistication to your environment.

Artwork that Enhances the Aesthetic Appeal of your Home

Additionally, owning a bespoke painting means you have a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of your home but also serves as a valuable investment. The exclusivity and craftsmanship involved in creating a custom piece make it a cherished heirloom that can be passed down through generations, adding both emotional and financial value to your collection.

Commissioning a painting is an easy and straightforward experience, so even if you've never arranged a commission before or have never contacted an artist, I'm here to help you to realize your dreams and make the experience as smooth and as enjoyable for you as possible.

Your Art Commission: What is Involved?

Once all the specifics of the commission have been agreed and you are happy for me to proceed with the painting, I will provide you with an invoice so you can pay the deposit. The invoice will also state the estimated date the painting will be completed by. I will require your details to go on this invoice: your name, complete UK address including postcode, phone number and email address. The delivery courier will require these details from me when I post the finished painting to you.

The Deposit

When I begin a commission, I ask for a fifty per cent deposit. This is a common practice for professional artists and simply helps me cover the cost of materials like canvas and paints, as well as the time and care I put into starting your piece, including administrative work, and costs already paid for by myself out of my own funds. This guarantees your place in my schedule and ensures that your painting is given the time, focus and materials it deserves from the very beginning. The deposit is non-refundable and goes toward the overall fee, so it's not an extra cost — just the first step in the process.

I find that this arrangement gives both of us peace of mind: I can dedicate myself fully to creating your painting with everything it needs right from the start knowing that your artwork is reserved, underway, and being created with the highest level of care and attention.

Keeping You Updated

Once the deposit has been paid, I will make a start on the painting and update you regularly by providing you (by email) with images of the painting as it progresses; and at any of these stages you can provide me with reasonable feedback and let me know if there is anything minor in the painting that needs to be altered slightly. At the end of the day, I am painting this artwork for you, so I want to make sure the painting ends up exactly how you want it.

However, it is important to note that major compositional changes (such as painting out the main subject matter halfway through the commission and painting it elsewhere, or other such changes) will not be accepted. I have learned from decades of experience in painting for clients that is always helpful if clients are crystal clear from the very beginning (before brush has touched the canvas) as to what they wish me to paint in a commission. Unfortunately, you cannot suddenly change your mind about the composition once the painting is underway — even if you believe it will improve the painting. So please give considerable thought to your proposed painting composition before contacting me and arranging a commission. I am also happy to provide helpful compositional suggestions if you should need them (after you have contacted me specifically to arrange a commission and paid the deposit), and cast my 'artist's eye' over any reference photos you send to me and let you know which photo might work best as the basis for any proposed painting I create for you.

The Finished Painting

I shall notify you by email within twenty-four hours following the completion of the painting. I shall email a hi-resolution image of the painting to you — and you must then make an approval of the painting based on the image. If you decide not to accept the finished painting or decide to pull out of the commission at any point, I shall keep the commissioned painting and the deposit for the time I have invested and for the work I have completed. If I am unable to fulfil the commission and, for whatever reason, have to take the regrettable decision to pull out of the commission process, then I will keep the partly worked painting, but I will refund all payments in full.

The Final Payment

A final (second) invoice will be issued to you so you can make the final payment. The final payment shall be required in full and be given reasonable time to clear before I can professionally package and deliver (by courier) the painting to you and thereby grant the right of ownership to you and allow you to keep the painting. But all other rights, including copyright, reproduction rights, publishing rights, etc., I will retain as artist and sole creator of the artwork. A Certificate of Authenticity shall be provided with the painting.

Delivery

Requirements for delivery to your UK address are as follows: Please include your email address and your landline telephone number (including its area code) or your mobile number, as well as your full name, the delivery address, and your postcode. The courier will require this information from me before posting the painting. Without this information, the courier will not be able to collect the painting from me or deliver it.

The Commission Process in Greater Detail

With painting commissions, I usually find out first what you are looking for in the proposed painting so I can paint exactly what you want: namely, the specifics or characteristics of the painting (i.e. the size, light and shade, colouration, amount of detail required, if it is to be painted in a photorealistic style or something a little more loose and painterly etc.).

For example, if you're commissioning a professionally painted maritime painting, then a good size photo of the boat would be very helpful for me to use as reference — a jpg image file would be preferable, with a file size between 2MB to 5MB. Note: please ensure the copyright owner of the photograph grants written permission for me to use the photograph for reference purposes. As my client, the more information you can provide about how you want the painting to look, the better I can visualize how it will appear when it is finished.

It is important that everything is made clear by you in regards to exactly what is to be featured in the painting at the very beginning of the commission process; for once the painting has begun, no major changes can be made after this point. The information that you provide me with doesn't need to be complex or too technical, so don't worry too much; you can keep it as simple as you want.

To discuss the commission, it would be helpful if you could email the details of what you want in the proposed painting, so I have it all written down for future reference. This is the best way for me to work as an artist. What I like about email correspondence is that everything is already typed out, clear, and easy for me to refer to whenever I need to access it. I can then devote important time and effort in the studio to the actual painting itself and get on with producing your artwork for you.

Meeting Your Expectations

Meeting a client's expectations when they commission a painting is paramount. Quality and professionalism are the cornerstones of my craft. Delivering a piece of bespoke art that aligns with your vision not only ensures my satisfaction but also helps build my reputation as a reliable and skilled artist. Each brushstroke reflects my commitment to excellence, and every interaction demonstrates my dedication to professionalism. By consistently meeting expectations, I hope to foster trust and loyalty, paving the way for future commissions and positive word-of-mouth referrals.

Sketches

I do not normally produce sketches for clients or undertake 'artist visits' to clients, but if additional sketches or artist visits should be required, there is an advance fee payable of £100 per sketch and a starting fee of £300 per day for artist visits (depending on the location within the UK). These payments are both non-refundable. Remember: a sketch is a separate artwork in itself, which takes time and skill to create; so naturally there is a reasonable charge for this extra work.

High Quality Paints

Quality is important. I use professionally-made artist panels, canvases and paints. The most important thing about any brand of paint is the quality of the pigments they contain. I use professional grade artist paints. These oil paints contain high quality pigments with excellent lightfast qualities. I normally paint with oil paints, which require drying time in between each layer that is applied to the painting; but I can also use high quality acrylic paints as an alternative if you prefer your painting to be painted with acrylics. Acrylic paints dry much faster than oil paints, as they contain a synthetic polymer with fast drying properties. Traditional oil paints contain linseed oil, which take longer to dry; though Alkyd oil paints are a good alternative to traditional oils and are able to dry slightly quicker and achieve the same high standards.

How Long Does a Painting Commission Take?

A detailed photorealistic maritime oil painting, painted with high quality pigment-based oil paints, can take me anywhere between twelve to sixteen weeks to complete — equating to approximately 170 to 250 hours work at the easel or greater — depending on the size of the painting, the amount of detail required, and my current schedule. Each painting is created with care and precision, ensuring the highest quality. A seascape or landscape with less detail would take me up to twelve weeks to complete, including drying time and varnishing.

Art Panels and Canvases

The same high standards apply to the substrates I use: artist panels, canvas boards and pre-stretched canvases are all professionally made and triple primed, ready for painting with high quality oil paints or acrylic paints.

Varnishing a Painting

Please bear in mind that after finishing the oil painting, I will only be able to apply an artists' retouch varnish layer to the painting, and not a final varnish (which requires up to twelve months of drying time — for an oil painting — before it can be applied). Professional artists' retouch varnish can be applied much earlier than a traditional final varnish (as early as a month after the painting has been completed) and will still provide a protective coating over the paint layer while at the same time allow the paint layer to go through the process of drying out properly.

Framing Your Painting

PLEASE NOTE: as an artist, I only supply a finished 'unframed' painting to clients — I do not supply a frame with the commissioned painting. Picture framing is the responsibility of the client. This gives you the freedom to choose a frame that best suits your personal style and interior setting. You will need to contact your local picture framer once you have ownership of the painting. Your local framer will professionally frame the painting and attach all required fixings (such as d-rings and picture cord/wire), thereby making the painting 'ready to hang' for you.

PAINTING COMMISSION PRICES FOR 2026

The prices below refer to the price of the painting only. Maritime paintings often require a significant amount of technical detail, as well as research, careful and appropriate layering of paint layers and artistic expertise, and this is reflected in the pricing set out below — due to the extra work involved and extra time taken to complete such a painting. Example: I recently completed a detailed, historically-accurate maritime painting for a client which took me over two and a half months to complete (almost a quarter of a year) and required seventy hours of research before the painting was begun. Coastal seascapes however require less work and will be slightly less in price.

Please enquire by email in the first instance for a quote. Delivery and packaging costs are additional (starting from £50 for UK delivery) and will vary depending on the size and weight of the painting and the location of your delivery address. Insurance will be included in the delivery price.

I look forward to collaborating with you throughout the commission and welcome your feedback at any stage in the process, so that the finished painting will meet your expectations.

Owning an Artwork: What 'Rights' Do You Own?

Click here for helpful information about rights...

Buying a painting is a huge experience for many, one that is rewarding in terms of acquiring something of beauty that no-one else owns and also in terms of personal investment; but do you know what rights you own once you have purchased the artwork?

How to Look After Your Painting

It is important to hang and display your painting in the best place and to look after it. Every home is different. Please remember that paintings should not be placed or displayed close to a source of heat, such as a radiator or strong halogen lights, and should not be hung for long periods on a cold or damp wall or stored without any protection in a place, such as a draughty loft or a garage, where dust is likely to settle on it and where it is likely to be exposed to increased heat in the summer months and colder temperatures during the winter months.

It's good practice to remove the painting from the wall (or place of storage) occasionally, when you give the painting and its frame a routine and careful dusting, as it allows air to circulate around the back of the painting. It's important to do this every once in a while, or else tiny spots of mould might develop on the rear of the canvas, panel or canvas board, especially if you keep your painting in the same place for months on end and if your walls are cold and damp.

Regarding the storage of your painting. When not on display, it is always best to store paintings upright (not leaning) in an environment where the temperature and humidity is fairly constant and not liable to fluctuate to extremes. If a painting is displayed, stored and looked after properly, it will remain in excellent condition.

If your canvas is affected by the humidity in your home and begins to show signs of sagging or rippling, then this can easily be fixed by carefully placing the painting picture-side down on a clean, smooth sheet of cardboard, or fine cotton cloth on the floor (but never place the painting directly on a carpet or a woollen cloth, because of the textile fibres), and lightly tapping the small wooden wedges further into the wooden stretcher bars with a hammer. The wedges are located on the wooden stretcher bars on the rear of the canvas, in the corners. Lightly tap every wooden wedge two to three times, so the tension in the canvas becomes evenly tightened.

As oil paintings do not require glass protecting their painted surfaces, it is recommended to prevent dust and small airborne fibres from settling and accumulating on the surface of your painting by removing it with an inexpensive squeezy dust blower (the kind photographers use to remove dust from their camera lenses) at least once every two months. This will ensure your painting will remain in good condition. Alternatively, you can use a brand new, clean, soft-haired paint brush, or a lint-free anti-static cloth for lightly and carefully cleaning the surface of the painting and the frame (the picture frame is prone to being touched and handled more than the painting's surface and therefore susceptible to the natural oils left on fingerprints); but do not rub too hard and do not clean the painting with a paper towel or a sponge; and do not place any water on the wooden stretcher bars, as the moisture may cause them to warp.

Do not clean or wipe dust from the painting using your bare hands, as your hands contain natural oils which will transfer to the painting's surface and any marks will colour over time.

Mark Woollacott is a member of Artists' Union England, the trade union for visual, applied and socially engaged artists www.artistsunionengland.org.uk

Testimonials...

"The painting now hangs in pride of place in our front room. I do not lie when I say that whenever I look at it I will get great pleasure knowing that it has become a reality through a daughter's love and painted by an artist that has painted it with such feeling and skill" — Mike & Helen

"Mark, I cannot thank you enough for all the care and attention you have given to our commission and I am so delighted I made the choice to ask you to do the work.... I wanted to write and thank you for painting Whitsuntide. The painting is wonderful and brought so many wonderful memories alive for me again. Although your regular photos of her provided me with a very clear idea of how fabulous the painting would be, I wasn't expecting the huge wave of emotion that I experienced when I saw the painting. I found the regular updates and ability to share decisions about colours, movement of the water, the sky and even the fine detail of the compass with you, enabled me to feel totally involved with the painting. Thank you for bringing my dad back to life for me again, you have absolutely found the spirit of him as he stands looking down the Solent. He loved his boat." — Peter & Jan

"WOW! The painting looks incredible! The level of detail and the way you have captured the essence of the scene is more than I could have hoped for. Thank you. I am so glad that we found you and your work online, I couldn't imagine a more ideal or more personal gift for our dear friend than a painting of his home and boat. It has been an absolute pleasure to see the painting come to life through the photographs and updates you have sent us. I am really looking forward to seeing it in real life! Thank you!" — Suzanne

"Mark has painted a truly evocative picture. He has captured the true essence of this beautiful place and brought back many happy memories of years gone by. Thank you so much!" — Penny & Andrew

"Absolutely as we wanted it. Beautifully researched and executed. A wonderful painting!" — Mike & Jo

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a commissioned yacht painting take to complete?

A typical yacht commission takes around 12 to 16 weeks to complete, depending on the size of the canvas, the level of detail, and my current schedule. Each painting is created with care and precision, ensuring the highest quality.

What information do I need to provide to commission a yacht painting?

Clients usually provide clear photographs of their yacht, along with any preferences for setting, background, or mood. I am also happy to discuss ideas with you to create a compositional scene that reflects your vision.

What sizes are available for a boat painting commission?

I offer a range of sizes for canvases, canvas boards or panoramic artist panels, from medium works to large statement pieces. A popular size for yacht commissions is around 24 x 36 inches, but custom sizes are also available depending on your needs.

Do you ship yacht paintings internationally?

Yes, I can carefully package and ship paintings worldwide, depending on the country — but not larger artworks. All artwork is fully protected and insured to ensure it arrives safely. You will have to pay a delivery fee and insurance in addition to the painting commission fee, and you will also be responsible for paying any custom tariffs and taxes when the painting enters your country, and this could be anywhere between 10 to 20 per cent of the value of the painting depending on the tariff set by your country.

How much does it cost to commission a yacht painting?

The cost of a commission depends on the size of the canvas and the level of detail, time and research required. Please see my prices on my website or contact me directly for a personal quote tailored to your project.

Can I request specific details, such as the yacht's location or background scenery?

Absolutely. Many clients like their yacht to be shown in a favourite location, such as the Mediterranean, or at anchor with a particular view. I will work closely with you to include meaningful details in the painting. But you must supply me with a hi-res reference photograph to work from.