FKINP Four UK portrait commission routes compared
To commission an original portrait in the UK, compare each route by medium and artist choice, reference method, approval stages and payment terms before requesting a written quotation. The Royal Society of Portrait Painters page does not set out a standard reference, revision or payment process; The Family Portrait Company page does not identify its full medium range or artist-selection method; and CommissionIt does not give standard live-sitting terms.[1][4][5]
Royal Society of Portrait Painters
Medium and artist choice: The RP offers consultations or direct contact with portrait artists. It says its artists are peer-selected for outstanding quality, although this is the society’s own selection claim rather than independent performance evidence.[1]
Sittings or photographic references: Agree with the chosen artist whether the portrait will use live sittings, artist photography or client-supplied photographs.
Approval and payment: Online consultations and in-person appointments are available, but approval, revision and payment terms need to be obtained from the individual artist.[1]
Tamsin Dearing
Medium and artist choice: This single-artist route offers pencil, coloured-pencil, pastel and charcoal portraits, with different paper and pastel-ground options.[2]
Sittings or photographic references: Portraits are always drawn from photographs, usually supplied by the client. People or animals from separate images can be combined.[2]
Approval and payment: A non-refundable deposit of 20% of the quoted price confirms the commission and waiting-list place. Dearing sends progress scans for feedback; the balance is due after final approval and before dispatch.[2]
The Family Portrait Company
Medium and artist choice: Its published service covers portraits of people and pets.[4]
Sittings or photographic references: The company’s guide cites the Royal Society of Portrait Painters for a general workflow in which clients provide high-quality photographs or arrange live sittings; it does not state which reference methods the company itself uses.[4]
Approval and payment: The company says it guides clients through each stage with transparent updates. The Family Portrait Company’s guide quotes artist Zoe Starhilton saying most artists ask for a 50% deposit to secure the booking, with the remaining 50% due on client satisfaction.[4] The page does not publish the company’s own prices or deposit terms, so confirm them directly.
CommissionIt
Medium and artist choice: This intermediary says it matches projects according to style, medium, technical ability, availability, location, budget and delivery requirements. It may recommend an artist or let the client choose.[5]
Sittings or photographic references: CommissionIt provides guidance on photographic references and says it can assess damaged images or combine subjects from separate sources.[5]
Approval and payment: Depending on the medium, the agreement may include approval of a sketch, composition, sample, drawing or digital preview. Payment can be made in full or in stages against milestones stated in the agreement.[5]
Judge relevant portraits, not a generic portfolio
Compare completed portraits in the intended medium, with a similar number of subjects, arrangement and approximate scale. CommissionIt’s guidance calls for a representative portfolio for each distinct commission service, showing style, materials, subjects, sizes and production time.[5]
Look for captions that support those comparisons. Dearing identifies the medium used for each gallery image, allowing direct comparison of pencil, coloured-pencil, pastel and charcoal work.[2] The RP’s peer-selection process is a useful screening signal, but it does not guarantee a subjectively satisfactory likeness.[1]
Define the medium, arrangement and dimensions
The initial brief should include as many known details as possible, such as the subject matter, preferred medium, size or aspect ratio, palette, meaningful details, references, background treatment, budget, deadline and framing needs.[3][5]
Measure the usable display area rather than the whole wall, accounting for furniture, doors, switches and viewing distance.[5] Record both the artwork dimensions and the maximum overall framed dimensions because a mount and frame can materially enlarge the finished work.[5]
Confirm the finished dimensions before work starts. CommissionIt says medium, materials, source images, transport, access and installation can limit the practical size.[5]
CommissionIt describes oils as suited to depth, blending and a traditional finish; acrylics as offering strong colour and faster drying; and watercolours as lighter and more fluid. Watercolours are normally made on paper and framed behind glazing.[5]
Choose sittings or photographs deliberately
State whether the artist will work from live sittings, photographs taken by the artist or images supplied by the client. Dearing works exclusively from photographs, while The Family Portrait Company’s guide cites the RP for a general workflow using photographs or live sittings.[2][4]
For a photographic commission, agree the required image quality, angles and lighting. Supply clear original files where possible rather than screenshots or compressed social-media copies; Dearing looks for focused images with sufficient detail, while CommissionIt recommends useful angles and good light.[2][5]
If the artist will combine people, pets or objects from separate images, label each source and approve the proposed arrangement and any reconstructed, replaced or simplified background. CommissionIt says achievable likeness depends on the source material and significant reconstruction must be agreed in the brief.[5]
For live sittings, put the number, duration, location, travel charges and arrangements for cancellation, rescheduling or extra sittings in the agreement.
Put approvals, revisions and changes in writing
Set checkpoints suited to the medium, such as reference selection, an initial sketch or digital composition, a colour or material sample, progress review and final approval. CommissionIt allows for different preview methods, while Dearing sends progress scans and seeks final approval.[2][5]
For each checkpoint, state:
- what is being approved and which decisions the approval fixes;
- how approval will be recorded;
- the response deadline; and
- the number and type of revisions included.
Distinguish revisions within the approved brief from changes to the pose, crop, subject count, background, dimensions, medium or materials. CommissionIt says revision allowances should be stated in the agreement and that out-of-scope or post-approval changes may increase the price and timetable.[5]
Require a written change quotation before further work. CommissionIt says material changes to size, composition, materials or scope should be agreed before work continues.[5] Zoe Star Hilton’s guide warns that major changes can become impractical after painting starts, particularly in oils.[3]
Separate the original artwork from image permissions
CommissionIt’s guidance distinguishes ownership of the physical artwork from copyright and reproduction rights; buying the original does not, on its account, automatically transfer those rights.[5] The written agreement should therefore address permission for:
- personal prints;
- printing or publication;
- packaging and advertising;
- licensing or other commercial use; and
- promotional images.[5]
State which uses are included and whether further permission or payment will be required. CommissionIt says reproduction permissions can affect the commission price.[5]
Also record whether the artist may photograph and display the portrait in a portfolio, on a website or in promotional material.[5] Any confidentiality requirement, publication embargo or portfolio restriction should be agreed before work starts.[5]
Compare the full price, framing and delivery
Compare the full delivered price rather than the artwork price alone. Request an itemised quotation covering extra subjects, sittings or photography, reference restoration, background work, framing or mounting, glazing, packaging, delivery, insurance, installation and travel. CommissionIt says size, materials, complexity, creative experience, framing, delivery and deadlines can affect price.[5]
The Family Portrait Company’s guide cites the Royal Society of Portrait Painters for indicative prices from around £1,500 for head-and-shoulders drawings, £2,000–£5,000 for small individual portraits, £5,000–£25,000 for detailed family compositions and up to £100,000 for large, complex works.[4] The page does not publish the company’s own prices. These categories should not be treated as equivalent to quotations from the other routes.
Request framed and unframed prices where useful. CommissionIt lists traditional and contemporary mouldings, canvas tray frames, mounts, glazing, box frames and bespoke finishes as possible options.[5] Dearing supplies portraits mounted, recommends professional framing and offers an optional framing service.[2]
Agree the dispatch method, packaging, insurance, property access and any installation. Delivery may use a tracked parcel service, specialist art courier, maker delivery or collection.[5] Dearing dispatches after payment using a tracked, signature-required courier and states that UK delivery is next day.[2]
CommissionIt gives a general production period of several weeks to several months. Drying, curing, specialist finishing, framing and delivery may extend the timetable.[5]
What to confirm with each provider
Resolve these points in the quotation or commission agreement rather than relying on assumptions:
- the exact number and type of included revisions;
- live-sitting duration, number, location, travel costs and rescheduling terms;
- separate prices for framing, delivery, insurance, installation and additional subjects;
- cancellation, refund and termination terms, noting Dearing’s stated non-refundable deposit;
- the applicable service area and any travel or international-delivery limits; and
- the consequences for cost and timing if an approved composition changes.
Pre-deposit portrait commission checklist
Before paying a deposit, check that the written quotation or agreement:
- Defines the artwork: artist, subjects, medium, composition, artwork dimensions, framed dimensions, approved references or sittings, deadline and deliverables.[3][5]
- Fixes the payment stages: deposit, milestones, approval points, included revisions, prices for later changes and the trigger for the final balance.[5]
- States the delivered scope: framing, packaging, insurance, delivery and installation, with their costs identified.[5]
- Records image permissions: copyright, personal or commercial reproduction, portfolio use, confidentiality and any digital-file supply.[5]
Attach or identify the approved references and composition.[5] Any blank covering sittings, revisions, late changes, cancellation or the delivered price should be resolved before payment.
References
- COMMISSIONS – The Royal Society of Portrait Painters (therp.co.uk)
- Your Guide to Commissioning a Portrait – Tamsin Dearing (tamsindearing.co.uk)
- How to Commission a Painting or Artwork: A Complete Guide | Zoe Star Hilton (zoestarhilton.co.uk)
- Portrait Process Explained: Complete Guide (UK) – The Family Portrait Companys (familyportraitcompany.com)
- Frequently Asked Questions About Bespoke Commissions | Art Commissions UK | Portraits, Paintings, Sculpture & Murals | CommissionIt (commissionit.co.uk)
