Commissioning a Painting: A Guide for First Time Buyers

For many collectors, commissioning a painting marks a confident shift in their sense of style and taste.  Buying finished artwork is often instinctive: you fall in love with something that already exists. Commissioning a painting, by contrast, is an act of collaboration. It is deliberate, intentional, personal, and planned.

An art commission begins not with a canvas, but with either a desire for a thoughtful gift to celebrate a significant birthday/anniversary or (more usually) a view: a stretch of coastline, a favourite Munro, or a landscape tied to a sense of belonging. In Scotland especially, landscape painting is closely linked to identity and place. To commission an artist to interpret that connection is not simply a design decision, it is a statement of value, and for the artist involved it’s always an honour and pleasure to work on. 

For first-time buyers, the process can feel a bit uncertain. Questions around cost, timelines, creative control and logistics are perfectly normal. The reality is far more straightforward (and more enjoyable) than many expect.

This guide walks through the art commission process step by step, replacing any uncertainty with clarity.

Why Choose a Bespoke Piece

Collectors choose commissioning a painting for reasons that go well beyond decoration.

Capturing a Legacy

Many commissions centre on locations that carry personal weight: a childhood beach, a honeymoon walk up a Munro, a Highland glen visited by generations of the same family. These are not always subjects easily found among existing Scottish art for sale. A bespoke work allows the landscape to be interpreted with emotional accuracy rather than geographic literalism.

A custom landscape painting can hold a bespoke and personalised interpretation of memory and atmosphere in a way that a ready-made piece rarely can.

Designing for a Specific Space

Practical considerations also matter: a stairwell with width but limited height; a fireplace wall that needs visual balance; a long dining room requiring rhythm rather than a single focal point.

Commissioning a painting allows scale and proportion to be designed intentionally for the setting, rather than adapted after purchase.

The result tends to feel intentionally integrated rather than an afterthought.

Phase One: Defining the Vision and Style

One of the most common misconceptions is that clients need technical art knowledge to begin an art commission. They do not!

A starting point may be as simple as: a favourite Scottish view;
a coastline associated with family history; a mood or colour; a season or quality of light.

When buyers commission work of art, they are selecting a body of work and a visual language from an artist they already trust. Existing paintings act as a reference point for tone and style, while the commissioned piece remains entirely original.

When it comes to working with me, a brief typically includes thoughts on atmosphere and colour combinations to be included in my semi-abstracted Scottish landscape painting style. 

This balance of a recognisable yet interpretive sense of place is where commissioned landscape work is often at its strongest.

Phase Two: The Practical and Logistical Roadmap

Transparency is central to a professional art commission process. Clear structure builds confidence and trust.

The Initial Consultation

The first stage is a detailed conversation. This usually covers:

• where the painting will live



• wall size and surrounding materials



• preferred palette and tonal range



• mood, movement and light



• reference locations or photographs



This discussion ensures the work is conceived in context, as part of a home rather than as an isolated object.

The Financial Structure

Commissioning a painting typically involves an initial deposit of  30–50% to secure studio time, materials, and scheduling. The balance is paid upon completion and only when the client is 100% happy about their new artwork.

This structure is standard practice across established artists and protects both client and artist commitment.

The Timeline

Quality painting takes time. For a professional custom landscape painting, a typical completion window is 4 to 12 weeks (depending on gallery and exhibition commitments).

This allows for:

• layered paint application



• revisions and refinements



• adequate drying time



• framing preparation



Rushed work rarely produces enduring results. Serious collectors generally prefer patience over speed.

Phase Three: Creative Collaboration and Trust

The strongest commissions are built on mutual respect: clarity from the client, creative authority from the artist.

Progress updates are shared at two points: firstly initial sketches and then at the midpoint stage, particularly for larger works. This ensures alignment without encouraging over-direction. There is an important distinction between guidance and control.

An art commission is not a mechanical replication exercise. It is an interpretation. The artist’s role is to translate the brief through their own visual intelligence and material understanding.

Collectors who allow space for that interpretation tend to receive more powerful, resolved paintings.

Final Delivery: From Studio to Wall

The final phase of commissioning a painting is handled with the same care as its creation.

Professional Framing

Framing is considered part of the artwork, not an afterthought. Choices are made to complement both the painting and the interior, often with restrained, contemporary frames that allow the work to breathe. I use a trusted local framer who can provide almost limitless options when it comes to choosing the perfect frame. Sometimes the simplest off-white box frame is the best, but it’s dependent on the individual painting and where it will be hung.

The piece will be collected or couriered finished, signed, framed and packaged.

Safe Transit and Shipping

Professional artists use specialist packing materials and insured courier services. Paintings are regularly shipped from Edinburgh and across Scotland to collectors throughout the UK and internationally. Within the last few months I’ve safely shipped paintings to Switzerland, the States and France. 

Collectors buying Scottish paintings for sale from abroad often find the logistics far more straightforward and cheaper than expected.

Commissioning as a Collector Milestone

Commissioning a painting is not simply a purchase transaction. It is a partnership that produces something personal, enduring and materially crafted. In many homes, commissioned paintings become anchor pieces, emotionally resonant and generationally held.

To begin a conversation about transforming a meaningful Scottish landscape into a bespoke painting, visit the Commissions page on my website or make an enquiry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is commissioning a painting more expensive than buying from a gallery?

A bespoke piece is priced based upon its size, and will be roughly the same as other similarly sized paintings I sell. 

Can I request colours to suit my interior?

Yes. Colour harmony is discussed early in the process, while preserving artistic integrity and cohesion.

What if I only have a low quality photograph?

Artists routinely work from mixed reference sources, site knowledge, and visual research to build a complete and convincing interpretation.

How is payment handled?

Payments are staged: typically a deposit at booking and the balance on completion.