Commissions
Welcome to the commission corner of my website, where I can turn your memories into a beautiful piece of art. Using high quality materials, I aim to capture not just the likeness, but also the personality of your loved ones, be it family members or beloved pets.
I offer two types of commissions:
-
Realistic oil paintings - see below for information on prices, availability and frequently asked questions.
-
Smaller stylised acrylic paintings - these are smaller and more affordable, but still beautifully capture your loved ones. These can be ordered through my Etsy shop.
If you are interested in an oil painting commission, please contact me with a high quality image of the subject matter (the higher quality the better) and I will aim to get back to you as soon as possible with availability and a quote.
Pricing - oil painting commissions
Indicative pricing for an oil painting commission is given below. If a painting is particularly complex (family portrait, very detailed background etc), the price may increase as the painting will take longer to complete.
Please Note:
*Actual size may vary slightly depending on the composition of the painting and type of surface used. Sizes and aspect ratios are not limited to the above and can be discussed prior to commencement of the commission.
**Prices include FREE postage within the UK. Prices may increase if a painting is particularly complex (family portrait, very detailed background etc) - this will be provided in the quote.
-
What is the booking process?Submit a contact form with the date of your wedding, location, venue, time and the package you're interested in to check availability. I will confirm availability and cost (e.g. if additional travel is required). To secure the date, a non-refundable deposit of 20% is required, along with a signed contract. A phone or video consultation will take place around 1 month prior to the wedding date to discuss the arrangements on the day and preferences for the painting.
-
What happens on the wedding day?Depending on the timeline of the day, I will arrive around 1-2 hr before the ceremony or reception to set up my easel. Prior to or during the photography time, I will take some photos and ask for a few specific poses. I will start painting shortly afterwards, and throughout the reception and evening the painting will come to life. I am happy to interact with guests throughout. Towards the end of the evening, I will show you the finished, or almost finished, painting.
-
What happens after the wedding?I will take the painting back to the studio and do a few final touch ups, then email you to make sure you are happy with the final painting before leaving it to dry. The completed painting will be varnished and posted around 2-3 months after the wedding (this is due to the long drying times of oil paint).
-
Is there a cancellation policy?A 20% non-refundable deposit is required to secure the date. The remaining 80% is due 1 week prior to the wedding date. In the event that the wedding or live wedding painting is cancelled less than 1 week but more than 48hrs before the wedding, the 80% will be refunded. Refunds are not available for cancellations within 48hrs of the wedding. In the very unlikely circumstance that I have to cancel, the full amount (deposit + 80%) will be refunded.
-
Do you travel within the UK?Yes! Travel within Derbyshire or 50 miles of the centre of Derby is included in the packages. Additional costs for travel and accommodation are outlined below: Within 100 miles of Derby (i.e. Midlands, greater Manchester and Yorkshire): £150 Greater than 100 miles from Derby: Upon request
-
Is there a discount for weekday weddings?Yes - a £100 discount is applicable for weddings held on a Monday to Thursday.
-
What space and materials do you require?I require an approximately 2x2m area to set up an easel and small table. This should be near a power outlet for lighting. I bring all my own materials including the acrylic or oil paint, canvas, brushes, easel, lighting and cleaning materials. I can also bring a cloth to protect the floor beneath the working area if required. For the oil paintings, I use solvent free painting / cleaning techniques, therefore there will be no harmful solvents or nasty fumes given off by the materials.
-
Do you travel within Europe?Unfortunately no, not currently.
-
I've had my big day - can you still capture it?Yes! Head over to the commissions page to find out more.
-
Does the painting come framed?No. Due to personal preferences, I do not frame the paintings. However, they are on stretched canvas which do not require a frame and are ready for hanging.
-
Can I add additional people or guests to my painting?I prefer to focus on intimate portraits of the couple, therefore do not include guests in the painting. However, if you have little one(s) that you feel the painting would be incomplete without, we can discuss this and include them in the painting. Each additional figure costs £100 per person.
-
Are you LGBTQ+ friendly?Yes! As long as you are in love, that's all that matters.
-
Do you do weekdays and weekends?Yes, I am happy to do both weekday and weekend weddings if I have availability. A discount of £100 is available for weddings on a Monday to Thursday.
-
Do you do other events or only weddings?Although this page is focussed on weddings, I can also paint at other events such as parties, gatherings or corporate events. I will need to get a reference photo to work from either before the event or at the start of the event.
-
Do you have public liability insurance?Yes, I have public and product liability cover up to £5 million.
Testimonials
Tim, 2023
Our dogs mean everything to us. I commissioned Lucy to paint them after I’d seen some of her work & realised that she had an eye for capturing the special elements of her subjects, and a talent for expressing them on canvas. I couldn’t be more pleased. Lucy has gone beyond my expectations in capturing the life & personalities of our dogs. The finished result continually catches my eye, the complex colours of their fur coats amaze me. That look in their eyes is absolutely right. When the dogs first saw themselves in the picture they both did a double-take! ( I think this was a great compliment!). Thanks Lucy. You have given me something I will always treasure.
Sam, 2023
I wanted to put a spin on my plans for family photos on my desk at work. I commissioned Lucy to paint a portrait/photo of my daughter when she was a baby. Throughout the process Lucy communicated with me to help review in detail what I was after and she kept me posted on progress. Ultimately, Lucy delivered exactly what I asked for and the completed painting itself looked even better than on the updates I had been sent. I would highly recommend Lucy to anyone with a painting request in mind. Also, now that I’ve had two more kids since the first commission, I wasted no time in commissioning Lucy to paint individual portraits of my two youngest children! Lucy is an incredible artist who’s eye for detail and strong communication skills means that she managed the instruction process and my specific requests with the upmost care. Thank you Lucy – my wife and family friends were very impressed with your painting! The kids couldn’t believe the paintings weren’t actual photographs!
Bethan, 2021
I commissioned a portrait from Lucy for a loved one and was thrilled with the final result. Lucy was so helpful, especially seems as we didn't have one photo in mind, and merged a few photos to get the image we wanted. Lucy communicated with us throughout the process and listened to our thoughts for the painting. I would highly recommend Lucy for any portraits, she is incredibly talented and all her work is finished to a high standard. Thank you very much Lucy, we all loved the portrait! :)
Rita, 2021
The first time I saw one of Lucy Milligans masterpieces I was at my son in laws house. At first I thought it was a photograph. I was promptly told that it was a painting. I was totally memorised. I thought such talent and the love that had gone into this painting. This could be seen in the eyes of the people she had portrayed. I contacted Lucy Milligan Art and asked if she would do a painting for me. I wanted her to paint my parents so I could give them a present on my 70th Birthday. When the finished painting finally arrived it bought tears of joy to my heart. So beautiful. I was so excited to give my parents this special gift. The packaging was exquisite and packed with care. My gift was received and highly praised. Thank you so much Lucy