Buying a painting is a fun, personal and fulfilling process, especially when you're equipped with the right knowledge and understanding. Here's some information designed to help ensure the painting you buy is right for you.

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​What's it made with?

My paintings are made with oil paint on primed fine 100% pure flax linen. 

Oil paint consists of pigment dispersed in a drying oil, i.e. an oil that hardens when exposed to air. It is relatively slow drying and has been favoured by painters since the Middle Ages thanks to its lustrous quality and versatility.

Linen is a strong and durable surface, and remains the preferred surface for many artists.. It is made from the fibres of the flax plant. A linen canvas is a sound investment because the threads that make up linen, known as the warp and weft threads, weigh the same, which means they are less prone to expansion or contraction due to moisture. Linen retains its natural oils, which helps to preserve the fibre’s flexibility and stops the canvas from going brittle. It is also regarded as having a more ‘natural’ weaved finish than cotton.

I like to manage of the preparation of my canvas myself so I stretch and prime my own linen canvas on wooden frames. A few of my paintings are made on pre-stretched canvas, or canvas board - check the description. The way a canvas is stretched and primed influences the interaction between the brush, paint and canvas, and artists develop their own preferences.


Original painting or a print?

My original paintings are for sale, and high quality giclee prints of my paintings are available in a range of sizes.
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Buying an original painting makes you the proud (and only) owner of a unique and very special item. It is my belief that buying artwork is an investment that goes way beyond the financial. It's like opening a gateway to a new way of thinking, it's like starting a new chapter. It's a creation of a beautiful connection, and adds value to our life experience. In more practical terms, the physical depth of an original painting with the canvas, stretcher bars and the raised forms of paint adds presence and its form interacts with the light in a room. The weight, smell and touch of an original painting are physical sensations which resonate between you and the piece. In my opinion, the value of artwork is in its deep personal connection with, and an original painting is one of life's true gifts.

Prints are a more affordable way to buy artwork and you're able to chose from a range of sizes. All my prints are produced via Giclée printing. Giclée is a fine art digital printing process combining pigment based inks with high quality archival quality paper to achieve an inkjet print of superior archival quality, light fastness and stability. The result is greater color accuracy, detail and texture compared to other means of reproduction, and Giclée prints are the first reproduction choice for collectors, galleries, photographers and artists. The more 'limited' the edition of prints, ie the fewer that have been printed, the more valuable your print will be. You can check to see how many reproductions have been made eg 1 /200. 

With the correct care both oil paintings and Giclée prints will last the duration of your lifetime and beyond.
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​To frame, or not to frame?

​My paintings are available in a choice of handmade frames custom cut and hand-made by local and highly experienced craftsman Robin Worth. 

A frame helps to present and protect a painting. It focuses attention on the work of art and creates a unified whole that stands alone and invites undisturbed contemplation. There are several schools of thought with regard to frame selection—but no hard and fast rules. The preferred thinking is that the work of art, and nothing else, should direct the selection of the frame. I also consider the style of the room in which the painting will hang.

My paintings are gallery wrapped which means they are also suitable for hanging unframed. Gallery wrap is a method of stretching canvas so that the canvas wraps around the sides of the stretcher bar and is secured at the back. The edges of my paintings are either neutral or painted in accordance with the artwork,

Should you wish to frame a print after you have received it, I advise mounting on a support prior to framing. 
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​Online or in person?
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Whether you buy online or in person, I aim for your buying experience to be enjoyable, informative and rewarding.

Maybe you'd like to come and see for yourself? I'm happy to talk through your buying options, show you around my studio, and talk about my work. Just let me know! 

My studio is in Reigate, Surrey, a lovely market town at the foot of the North Downs. There's lots of nice places to eat and drink, and castle grounds and historic caves to explore. 

If you chose to buy online, you can be assured the most care will be taken to ensure you receive your painting in a safe, secure and timely manner. Overseas buyers, please contact me to arrange international delivery. Customs and duties associated with shipment are the buyer's responsiblity.

If you would like further information, more photos or a video call about a painting you would like to purchase please don't hesitate to get in touch.