Oil portraits
Rich colour, depth and a traditional painted finish. Well suited to important family, wedding and memorial portraits.
Turn a favourite photograph into a portrait created especially for you.
Explore portrait artists working in oil, pencil, watercolour, pastel, digital art and mixed media. Commission a hand painted or drawn portrait from your photographs, including individual, family, child, couple and memorial portraits. CommissionIt can help you compare portrait styles, find the right artist and manage your portrait commission from the initial brief through to final approval.
Created from your photographs
Multiple styles and budgets
Memorial portraits available
UK artists and makers
Not sure which artist to choose?
We will recommend the best match, including portrait specialists not shown on our website.
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Commission a portrait from your favourite photograph
A commissioned portrait can transform a treasured photograph into an original artwork created specifically for you. It might celebrate a family, relationship, wedding, home, pet or important memory.
CommissionIt can help you compare artistic styles, prepare a clearer brief and connect with suitable portrait artists. Artists can work from one photograph, use several reference images or combine people and subjects who were not photographed together.
Choose a portrait style
Pencil drawings
Detailed and understated portraits with a timeless monochrome appearance and accessible starting prices.
Watercolour portraits
Soft, expressive colour with natural movement and a lighter contemporary character.
Acrylic portraits
Strong colour and definition for modern portraits, larger canvases and bold statement artwork.
Pastel portraits
Particularly effective for natural skin tones, subtle colour transitions and soft facial detail.
Digital and mixed media
Flexible contemporary approaches including illustration, collage, print ready artwork and combined materials.
What can be created from photographs?
Family portraits
Create an artwork featuring one person, a couple, children or several generations together.
Wedding portraits
Turn a meaningful wedding photograph into a lasting hand painted or drawn artwork.
Memorial portraits
Commission a sensitive tribute using treasured photographs and personal details.
Pet and horse portraits
Capture the expression, markings and personality of a much loved animal.
House portraits
Commission a home, wedding venue, workplace or meaningful building as a gift or keepsake.
Several photographs combined
Bring people, animals or locations from different photographs together in one balanced composition.
How commissioning works
Choose your direction
Decide on the portrait subject, preferred medium, approximate size and whether you want a detailed background.
Share your photographs
Provide the main photograph and any additional references showing expressions, colouring, clothing or important details.
Compare proposals
Review the artist's style, examples, approach, price, timetable and what is included.
Approve the artwork
Agree the composition and approval stages before the finished portrait is completed and delivered.
How much does a portrait from a photograph cost?
Prices depend on the medium, size, number of subjects, artist, background detail, framing and delivery. These ranges are illustrative planning figures rather than fixed quotations.
| Portrait example | Illustrative range | Main cost factors |
|---|---|---|
| Small pencil portrait of one person | £100 to £350 | Paper size, level of detail, framing and delivery |
| Watercolour, pastel or acrylic portrait | £200 to £650 | Size, background, number of subjects and artist experience |
| Hand painted oil portrait | £400 to £2,000+ | Canvas size, composition, detail, background and framing |
| Family or group portrait | £500 to £2,500+ | Number of people, source photographs, composition, size and complexity |
| Large statement portrait | £1,500 to £5,000+ | Scale, medium, artist, complexity, framing and installation |
CommissionIt Insight
The photograph with the highest resolution is not always the strongest portrait reference. An image that clearly captures the person's expression, posture and character may give the artist more useful information than a sharper but less representative photograph.
What photographs should you provide?
- Choose a main photograph that captures the expression and character you want in the finished portrait.
- Provide the highest quality original file available rather than a compressed social media copy.
- Include additional photographs showing colouring, facial details, clothing and body proportions.
- Explain whether people or subjects need to be combined from separate photographs.
- Tell the artist whether the background should be retained, simplified, replaced or removed.
- Identify any details that must be included, corrected or deliberately left out.
Frequently asked questions
Can an artist combine several photographs?
Yes. Artists can often combine people, pets or other subjects from separate photographs into one composition. The available references should show enough detail, colouring and proportion for the artist to work accurately.
Can an old or damaged photograph be used?
Often, yes. The most suitable medium and portrait size will depend on how much useful detail remains. Additional photographs of the same person may help the artist interpret unclear areas.
Can the background be changed?
Yes. Backgrounds can usually be simplified, replaced or removed. More complex changes should be discussed before the quotation because they may affect composition time and price.
How long does a commissioned portrait take?
Timescales vary by artist, medium, size and workload. Many portraits take approximately three to eight weeks, although larger or more complex works may take longer.
Will I approve the portrait before delivery?
Many artists provide an initial composition, progress image or final approval photograph. The approval stages and number of revisions should be agreed before work begins.
Start planning your portrait
Share your photographs, preferred style, approximate size, budget and required date so suitable artists can understand exactly what you want.
Start Your Portrait Project
