Paintings and portraits
Commission oils, acrylics, watercolours, pastels or mixed media, created from photographs, sittings, memories or a completely new brief.
Explore hand painted oils from photosOriginal artwork, made for you
Commission art that belongs in your space and tells your story
From a hand painted portrait or abstract canvas to a mural, sculpture or commercial installation, CommissionIt helps you shape the idea, select the right creative specialist and manage the commission through to delivery.
A dedicated art commissioning guide
What kind of artwork can you commission?
This page is for buyers considering original art. It complements our broader category hub, which also covers furniture, jewellery, lighting and other bespoke work. Here, the focus is choosing the right artwork, medium, scale, presentation and creative specialist.
Murals and large scale art
Transform a home, workplace, hospitality venue or public setting with a mural, feature wall or site specific work designed around the architecture.
Browse mural specialists
Art for interiors and businesses
Create abstract art, statement pieces, sculpture or coordinated collections for homes, offices, hotels, restaurants and other customer facing spaces.
Find art by room and settingMake the right creative choices
Choose the medium before choosing the artist
The medium changes the appearance, texture, durability, presentation and price of the finished work. You do not need to arrive with the answer, but these starting points make comparison easier.
Oil
Rich depth, subtle blending and a traditional premium finish. Particularly effective for portraits, landscapes and detailed statement works.
Acrylic
Versatile, durable and suited to bold colour, contemporary work and larger formats. It dries faster than oil.
Watercolour
Luminous and expressive, with a lighter visual character. Usually created on paper and presented with a mount and glazing.
Pastel and mixed media
Pastel can produce softness and immediacy, while mixed media allows the artist to combine texture, drawing, paint and collage.
Size and setting
Design the work for where it will live
A successful commission considers the wall, room, viewing distance, surrounding colours and available light from the outset. A photograph of the intended setting can help an artist judge scale and create a palette that either harmonises with the room or deliberately introduces contrast.
- Measure the available wall width and height.
- Decide whether the artwork should be a focal point or sit quietly within the room.
- Consider portrait, landscape, square or multi panel formats.
- Allow for the additional finished dimensions of a frame and mount.
Use the Artwork Size and Framing Visualiser
Explore artwork ideas by living room, bedroom, dining room, hallway, nursery or office
Presentation and framing
Plan how the artwork will be finished
Framing should be considered early because it affects materials, dimensions, delivery and budget. An oil or acrylic painting may be supplied as a stretched box canvas, placed in a tray frame or presented in a more traditional frame. Works on paper normally need a mount, backing and glazing.
Useful distinction: you can decide on the framing options well after you order the commission. An unframed canvas arrives rolled, it then needs stretching and framing, which you can arrange locally to save on shipping costs.
A managed process
How commissioning art works
Every project is different, but the decision and approval journey should remain clear.
Share the idea
Tell us the subject, setting, preferred size, style, deadline and working budget. References can include photographs, colours, interiors or artworks you respond to.
Find the right creative
We identify suitable artists or specialists based on their medium, style, experience, location and fit with the brief.
Agree the plan
Scope, price, timings, approvals, delivery and presentation are agreed before work begins, with a commissioning agreement supporting the project.
Create and deliver
The artist completes the agreed approval stages, then finishes, presents and delivers the work according to the project plan.
Homes, businesses and public spaces
One commissioning service, many settings
For your home
Portraits, pet portraits, landscapes, abstract art, sculpture and pieces designed for a particular room or occasion.
For business and hospitality
Original artwork, murals, installations and branded creative work for offices, hotels, restaurants, retail and events.
For public and community settings
Artist discovery and managed briefs for public art, placemaking, community projects and works involving multiple stakeholders.
Common questions
Before you commission
How much does it cost to commission art?
Price depends on size, medium, complexity, artist experience, materials, framing, installation, delivery and deadline. A clear working budget helps us recommend realistic options without forcing every project into a generic price band.
Can artwork be created from photographs?
Yes. A photograph can be the direct reference for a portrait or painting, or one part of a wider brief. Multiple photographs can sometimes be combined into a new composition, although complex reconstruction requires more planning and specialist work.
Can I commission something when I only have a rough idea?
Yes. You can begin with a purpose, room, memory, subject or mood. CommissionIt can help turn that starting point into a usable brief and identify the type of artist best suited to it.
Can I approve the work as it develops?
Approvals vary by medium and project. Composition sketches, colour studies, digital previews or progress photographs may be agreed where appropriate. The exact approval points should be set before the work begins.
Do you work with artists outside the UK?
Yes. CommissionIt works with UK and international artists and makers. Location, shipping, installation and timing are considered when matching the project.
Start with the idea
Tell us what you would love to create
You can share a detailed brief or simply explain the result you want. We will help clarify the medium, scale, presentation and type of artist required.
Original art, murals, sculpture and creative projects for private, commercial and public settings.
