Would you like to commission a portrait from Barnaby? It's a very simple process.

Step 1: Choose a photograph

The subject can be whatever you want: yourself, a friend or family member, your pet, whatever. Just make sure you have a good quality photograph (the higher the resolution, the better) which can be emailed. [It is cheaper and more convenient to work from a photograph, but if you'd prefer your portait to be done via a series of sittings, that can easily be arranged. This will, however, affect the price, so be sure to mention it when you fill in the Get A Free Quotation form at the bottom of this page.

To see how your photograph could be transformed into a professional portrait, check out the Work in Progress galleries here.

Step 2: Choose the medium, the surface and the size

There are four media to choose from: pencil, coloured pencil, wash or oil paint. Each has a range of surfaces on which it can be drawn or painted, and each has a range of sizes. [Please note that the sizes quoted refer to the size of the image - the paper or canvas they are on may be bigger.]

Pencil

Drawn using a full range of Derwent sketching pencils from 9B (very soft) up to H (hard), to give a rich and subtle range of tones. Sharp, clean, modern.

Surface: heavyweight white acid-free cartridge paper.

Sizes: A6 (105 × 148mm), A5 (148 × 210mm) or A4 (210 × 297mm) or a size of your choosing

Prices start at £200.

Coloured Pencil

Drawn using a limited palette of Derwent artist and pastel pencils, together with Conté pencils, to give a delicate play of tone and colour. Classic and timeless.

Surface: lightly-textured Ingres paper in a range of hues.

Sizes: A6 (105 × 148mm), A5 (148 × 210mm) or A4 (210 × 297mm) or a size of your choosing 

Prices start at £300.

Wash

Drawn and painted with a combination of pencil and layered ink or watercolour washes, to create depth and form. Strong and detailed but with a more painterly look.

Surface: heavyweight watercolour paper with a light grain.

Sizes: A6 (105 × 148mm), A5 (148 × 210mm) or A4 (210 × 297mm) or a size of your choosing 

Prices start at £300.

CHARCOAL

Drawn and painted with a combination of liquid charcoal, charcoal stick and charcoal pencil to build form and character. A classic look.

Surface: heavyweight watercolour paper with a light grain.

Sizes: A6 (105 × 148mm), A5 (148 × 210mm) or A4 (210 × 297mm) or a size of your choosing 

Prices start at £300.

Oil Paint (single session)

Created during a single session - typically 4-5 hours - this is a great way of having an oil portrait without the expense of commissioning a full multiple-session oil. It also means you’ll get your portrait more quickly as there’s no drying time between layers.

Surface: stretched canvas on a wooden frame (or - a thinner alternative - canvasboard).

Sizes: A6 (105 × 148mm), A5 (148 × 210mm) or A4 (210 × 297mm) or A3 (297 × 420mm) or a size of your choosing [NB: canvas sizes may vary slightly]

Prices start at £500.

Oil Paint (MULTIPLE SESSIONS)

Built up over numerous sessions using many layers of semi-transparent oil paint and glazes, to create a rich, vibrant and lifelike painting. The classic art gallery portrait.

Surface: stretched canvas on a wooden frame (or - a thinner alternative - canvasboard).

Sizes: A6 (105 × 148mm), A5 (148 × 210mm) or A4 (210 × 297mm) or A3 (297 × 420mm) or a size of your choosing [NB: canvas sizes may vary slightly]

Prices start at £1,000.

Step 3: Commission it

Once you know what you want, fill in the 'Get A Free Quotation' form below. The above formats and styles are not set in stone - they can be amended by mutual consent. Barnaby will then get back to you to confirm a timescale (anything from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, depending on the nature of the work) and discuss prices. When the fee is agreed, 25% is payable up front, a futher 50% upon completion of the portrait and the final 25% immediately prior to delivery (you will be invoiced at each stage and receipts issued). Photographs and progress reports will be provided along the way, so you can see your portait taking shape. NB: the buyer pays all packaging and delivery costs, whether they be Royal Mail, a private courier or hand delivery/collection.

That's it!

Check out Barnaby's portrait gallery here.

get a free quotation

lease fill in this form and give as much detail about what you'd like as possible - medium (pencil, wash, oil, etc.), surface (watercolour paper, canvas, etc.), size (A5, A4, etc.) and even preferred style ('like your portrait of Dean' or 'in the style of Van Gogh' or whatever).

NB: If you are after something other than a portrait, be sure to include details of your subject matter (house, pet, landscape, copy of a famous work of art, etc.) Barnaby will get back to you as soon as possible with prices and timescale.

FILLING IN THIS FORM DOES NOT COMMIT YOU TO ANYTHING. IT'S MERELY TO GET A FREE QUOTATION. PLEASE NOTE THAT PRICES START AT AROUND £200 (FOR THE SMALLEST PENCIL SKETCH) AND £500 (FOR A SINGLE-SESSION OIL PAINTING). BASICALLY, THE LARGER OR MORE COMPLICATED THE PORTRAIT, THE MORE IT WILL COST.

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