Custom Commissions
Want a piece of art that is truly unique for you or someone you love?
- Imagine surprising your spouse on your anniversary with a custom skyline of the city where you proposed- with all of the landmarks that meant the most to you as a couple.
- Or gifting a colleague with a skyline of the city you worked together in as a leaving or retirement gift.
- Or just coming home every night to a skyline of your hometown or one made up of landmarks from every city you've ever lived in- telling the story of your life on canvas.
One of the greatest joys of my job as an artist is helping people celebrate their most important memories of special places and people. I have worked with hundreds of people to create city skylines completely customized to them, a friend, or a loved one.
If you want to discuss working together to create something special, message me on my social media accounts or e-mail me at artbystephenjwatkins@gmail.com.
Frequently Asked Questions:
In what ways can I customize my art?
Just about anything honestly. You choose the city (or multiple cities if you'd like), the landmarks, the colors, and any other special details you want included. For a general idea of what can be done, explore the art on this site. Roughly speaking, commissions are divided into three categories:
- Classic Skylines (pieces like "My Time in London", "Red London Bus", etc)
- Complex Skylines (pieces like "London Heat", "London Stripes", "Landmarks of Doha", etc)
- Elaborate Skylines (pieces like "I'll Meet You in New York" and "Over the Thames")
A good place to start is to identify a piece of mine that really speaks to you, and we can work from there!
How much does a commission cost?
The cost of the commission depends on the complexity of the design, the size of the piece, whether you get it framed, and where it's being shipped to.
For context, a classic skyline piece ~1m x 30cm typically runs about £999 before shipping or framing. A non-refundable deposit of 50% of the painting's price secures your commission! When it's time to ship your new work of art to you or the lucky recipient, you'll pay the other 50% plus shipping and framing (optional).
Note, if you're local to the Suffolk or London area, I can typically drop the piece off to you at no charge if you'd like! Or you can come pick it up in my studio.
How long does a commission take?
Commissions generally take between 1-3 months to complete depending on the complexity and my current queue. If the commission is a gift for a birthday or anniversary that's coming up soon, we can work on getting a sketch out before then that you can present to them, so they have something tangible on the big day!
What does the process look like?
When you're ready to discuss a commission, message me on Facebook or Instagram (you can send messages through this site) or email me at artbystephenjwatkins@gmail.com. Be sure to include the following:
- An example piece or two of mine that gives me a sense of what you'd like this to look like
- The city or cities you'd like to include
- Any timeline constraints (like upcoming birthday, anniversary, etc)
If you decide to proceed with a commission, you'll send in your non-refundable 50% deposit to secure your spot on the list! From there, we can start talking about basics like which city (or cities) you want to feature, which specific landmarks should be there, the color, the size, etc. And when it's time for me to work on your piece, I'll send you a sketch first to make sure you're happy with it!
And when it's finished, you'll pay your final 50% of the price of your new art, plus shipping and any framing you requested. And then it gets sent to its new home, right where it belongs!