Watercolour artist & calligrapher

I create one off bespoke watercolour paintings of your pet using high quality watercolour paint and paper that you can treasure forever. I grew up with dogs and have always had pets in my life. I love nothing more than capturing the character and personality of a pet and bringing a smile to the owners face.

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The Process

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Commissioning a portrait of your pet couldn’t be easier! Simply get in touch with me via the contact form or by emailing me at sarahjaneartuk@gmail.com and we can go from there! The process is as follows:

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1. Photographs: Send me a few high quality photographs. It is important that these are clear, good quality images ideally taken in natural day light so that I can clearly see details, particularly the eyes and nose and direction of the fur. See the below photography guide.

2. Size / Deadline: Decide on the size of painting you would like (typically A4 or A3) and let me know if you have a specific date in mind that you need the painting by. My waiting list varies throughout the year so please do get in touch with me to check my availability. It is generally best to place an order between 6 weeks to 3 months before it is actually needed so that I can schedule you in and ensure it is completed at the right time. 

3. Deposit: Once the commission has been placed I ask for a 25% deposit which will secure your quote and place in my work schedule. This deposit will of course be deducted from the total cost. Payment can be made via Paypal or bank transfer.

4. Finished piece: Once your pet portrait is complete I will email you a photograph of it to check you are happy. Should you wish me to make any tweaks I am happy to do these at no additional cost however if the alterations are significantly different from the initial order (e.g. you’d like a detailed background to be added) there may be an additional cost. I will always make sure you are completely satisfied with the portrait before posting it to you.

5. Final payment and delivery: Once you are happy with your finished pet portrait and the remaining balance has been paid, I will ship your artwork out to you.    

 

Please note that all commissions are unframed and unmounted as standard as I cannot guarantee the safety of your portrait in transit when framed due to the risk of glass breakage. 

 

Postage & packaging

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UK Delivery

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All UK commissions will be posted with Royal Mail via next day Special Delivery to ensure a fast, safe and trackable journey and service. 

 

The price for this is £10 inclusive of packaging. I offer free p+p for those living within the BA1 and BA2 postcode areas of Bath. 

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International Delivery

International commissions will be sent via Royal Mail International Tracked and Signed. International tracked offers end-to-end tracking, signature upon delivery and an online delivery confirmation. Once your item has been posted I will contact you with the tracking code so that you can track the progress of your portrait.

International delivery aims to get your portrait to you within 3-5 working days within Europe, and 5-7 working days worldwide.

 

Please contact me for International Shipping rates.

 

Prices & Payment​

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The cost will depend on your individual size requirements of and the complexity of the painting. Please do not hesitate to get in touch and we can discuss your requirements and budget. 

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A general note on backgrounds: 

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Portraits generally comprise either a blank background, or something very simple and un-detailed. However if you would like a specific background, please let me know and we can discuss options. I can provide you with a quotation based on your preferences.

 

Photography​

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I cannot emphasise enough that the better the image you give me, the better the portrait will be. Ideally, I like to be able to choose from multiple images of the pet.

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Here are a few points that may help.

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• When photographing your pet try to be on the same level as them. It is much better to be looking at them rather than down, from a standing point of view.  

• If you have help, someone standing behind you can attract your pet’s attention with food or a toy, while you take the photo – hopefully with an alert expression.

• Try to fill the frame with your pet’s head so that I can see the colour and detail of the eyes.

• It is helpful if at least one photo is taken in natural light, (but not direct sunlight) to get an accurate colour match. No flash photography please.

• Please send the best quality photographs that you have, as they will be my only reference material for the portrait. The better the quality of photograph, the better the finished portrait will be. By using several photographs it is possible to capture a true likeness. For instance, one photo might show the exact colouring or detail of the pet and another might best capture an expression that you know and love.

• It’s important that the eyes and nose are in focus and sharp.

• Try to take the photos in good natural light but not with bright sunlight reflecting on their coat. I need to see tonal variation, particularly in dark coats.

• Photos need to be in focus! It’s worth enlarging the photo on a computer screen to ensure it should remain clear & sharp

• Please send high-resolution images via email.

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