FAQ's

YOU ARE AVAILABLE FOR MY WEDDING,
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

I cannot hold dates for live wedding painting. A £300 retainer (deducted form final amount) and a signed contract are required to officially secure your date.

The remaining balance is due six weeks before your wedding.

Please note: dates book out quickly, especially during wedding season, so I could be available for your date one day, and unavailable the next. 

HOW DO WE DECIDE WHO/WHAT WE WANT YOU TO PAINT?

Guest Illustrations:

It is completely up to you! Would you like all your guest painted? Some of them? Specific people or whoever wants it done on the day? Just let me know beforehand and I will do my best to ensure they are painted. Encourage your chosen guests to make themselves known to me otherwise I may miss them.

Live painting:

You will have a couple of things to think about:  

• Would you be happy to give me full creative licence? The bonus of this is you don’t have to make any decisions and can enjoy your day knowing I will have designed the composition of the piece, taking into consideration what works best and what shows you and the venue off in the best possible way. 

•  If you would like to decide yourself you need to think about which moment is the most special or important to you to capture? Do you want the first kiss immortalized? Or would you rather allow me to pose you in the most beautiful location at the venue? (I’ll only need about 10 minutes to do this, usually at the same time the photographer is doing your couple’s shoot).

• Who would you like included in the painting? If you would like to include figures of friends/family/pets you will need to think about this before deciding on a package. I will also need to be shown who these people/pets are beforehand, eg: by sending me photographs so I know who to paint.

• You may find googling wedding couple poses will help you decide what kind of image you would like hanging in your home. 

• This live wedding painting will be something that generations of your family will look at on their wall for hundreds of years - so no pressure!

WILL WE MEET BEFORE THE WEDDING TO GO OVER THE SPECIFICS?

Of course! About one month prior to your wedding, we will meet virtually to discuss where you would like me to set up on the day, the type of scene you want for your live wedding painting or illustrations, as well as anything else that may be important to you, perhaps including symbols that represent passed loved ones or the flowers in your bouquet. Prior to this meeting, I will ask you to send me the details of your other suppliers so, if needed, I can make contact with them (especially the wedding coordinator/photographers) to make sure the logistics of the day run smoothly.

I WANT TO GIFT THIS AS A SURPRISE, IS THIS POSSIBLE?

Yes!

I can discuss with you beforehand how exactly you'd like the surprise to go.

For live painting, would you like me to hide away all day, pretend to be the photographer's assistant to get the reference shot and reveal the finished painting at the end of the day? Or would you like the bride/groom/couple to spot me at the ceremony? Whatever it is I can make it work. I also do gift certificates if you would like to gift my service to the couple before the big day.

For Live illustrations I often find that if I'm set where the after ceremony reception is then the bride and groom have the best reactions as they gotten the ceremony over with and can relax and take in their day more. they then get to enjoy watching me make special gifts throughout the day.

CAN MY GUESTS TALK TO YOU AS YOU PAINT?

Yes please! Part of the service of live wedding painting/illustrations is the entertainment I provide to your guests. There can be several hours of not too much going on for guests at weddings and I have had many a person come to chat with me, ask about the process or simply pull up a chair and watch it happen! No matter how many times I do live wedding painting, I'm always bowled over by the sheer joy and enthusiasm of the guests that watch me work and how much of a talking point it is!

WILL THE ARTWORK COME FRAMED?

Not for live painting. You can have the painting framed (I highly recommended using a professional framer) or you can hang the canvas directly onto the wall following the instructions in the aftercare guide delivered with your painting.

For illustrations you can choose for them to be displayed in frames (you will need to provide these) or I can lay them out or hang them up for display. They are then gift wrapped for guests to take home with them.

ARE THERE ANY HIDDEN COSTS?

There will be no hidden costs. Everything is agreed upon before contracts are signed. I provide all the art materials needed.

WHY IS ADDITIONAL STUDIO TIME NEEDED? (live painting)

By the end of the wedding day, you may look at the painting and think it is finished.

But, just like a photographer goes away and edits photos for that extra va-va voom, that's what I do. I use extra studio time to enhance or add in more details, extra colour, play with light or shadow to bring more harmony to the piece…the possibilities are endless really. Think of it like a painting version of photoshop! 

CAN I HAVE OTHER PEOPLE/MY PETS/PASSED LOVED ONES IN MY PAINTING(S)? 

The great thing about art is the possibilities are only as limited as our imagination. If you wish to include other people or animals or even objects that hold special meaning to you I am happy to include them and we can discuss how to put it all together in your consultation. 

WHAT TYPE OF MATERIALS DO YOU USE?

I use only the finest, professional-quality materials. My canvases are already stretched and triple-primed on acid-free cotton or linen to ensure the longevity of the painting. My illustrations paper is the highest quality, high grade gsm, acid-free paper. My paints are Windsor and Newton Professional Watercolour and Oil paints. These paints are some of the best on the market for pigmentation, fade resistance and durability.

WHAT IF PAINT SPILLED AT MY VENUE?

I have full public liability insurance, so we’re both fully protected if someone trips over my easel and spills ink onto a carpet or hurts themselves. Although I do take precautions to prevent this from happening!

I can also bring a large mat to work on, for carpeted venues or venues which are too historic to take any risks.

If watercolour or glitter gets on your clothes, they should wash out fairly easily. If oil paint gets on your clothes you will need to get professional advice so best avoid touching the painting!

If you have any other questions: