Capturing Love: Timeless Live Oil Portraits and Wedding Scenes

Many of my couples tell me they feel they received two services for the price of one: the quiet spectacle for their guests of watching an oil painter absorbed in his craft, and the finished artwork itself, capturing more than a camera ever could.

A live wedding portrait is a tasteful way to honour the day you’ve spent so long planning, and to express the energy and feeling of it from someone who was there with you, from first kiss to first dance. In choosing me to memorialise your wedding, you are gaining an experienced painter with a thoughtful eye for scene building and a timeless style that will do justice to your day. The finished painting will grace your home long after the flowers have faded, evoking every highlight from your ceremony and celebration.

How it works

Step 1 – Planning your painting

Every wedding I attend is unique, so we’ll begin with a conversation before the day either by phone, video call or messages, whichever suits you. We’ll discuss:

• Which moment you’d like me to capture (exchanging rings, first kiss, first dance, speeches, etc.)
• The style you’re drawn to (a softer, impressionistic scene or a more detailed couple portrait)
• Canvas size, colour palette, and any people or details you’d especially like included
• Timings, venue layout and my arrival time

I’m happy to go over the finer points with you as often as needed so that, by the time the day arrives, we both know exactly what we’re aiming for.

Step 2 – On the day

I typically arrive a few hours before the chosen moment to begin laying in colour and building a backdrop from life. I’ll position myself strategically to ensure a clear view of you both, coordinating sensitively with your photographer so I never intrude on their shots.

At the key moment, I’ll take a handful of unobtrusive reference photographs. These allow me to preserve expressions and details while staying present in the scene. As the rest of your day unfolds, I move my easel to join your guests and the painting becomes a living part of the reception, one which your friends and family can watch as the scene slowly emerges from the canvas.

Step 3 – Studio finishing & delivery

Depending on the size you choose, I may complete the work on the day itself, or continue refining it back in my studio. Larger canvases and more detailed compositions naturally benefit from additional studio time, where I can fully do justice to the light, setting and emotion of the moment.

Once finished, your richly detailed oil painting is carefully dried and prepared, then shipped to you via tracked delivery (UK shipping free), ready to hang in pride of place in your home.

Two ways I can paint your day

1) Impressionistic Wedding Moments

This option gives me the opportunity to paint the moment in real time, as the scene builds under my brush. The intention is to capture the first kiss, exchanging of rings, or another chosen moment as it happens. A softer, more ethereal painting is created, one that still suggests your guests and setting, but offers a dreamy vision of the memory. The rich oil paint forever records a day you will never forget.

2) Detailed couple & individual portraits

Ideal if you’re drawn to larger canvases and want the focus firmly on the two of you. Here I rely more heavily on reference photos taken at the agreed moment so I can capture your expressions, attire and surroundings with care. With the tableau preserved, I can immerse myself back into the beauty of that point in time, creating a richly detailed portrait that celebrates a moment of intimacy and emotion. These portraits are typically completed later in my home studio and then posted to you once finished.

Packages & pricing

You can choose from the following canvas sizes:

• 16" x 20" – £2,200 Sienna Package
• 18" x 24" – £2,600 Viridian Package
• 24" x 30" – £3,100 Cerulean Package *Bespoke framing included
• 30" x 40" – £3,600 Vermilion Package *Bespoke framing included

Larger canvases are particularly well suited to detailed couple portraits, while the smaller sizes work beautifully for impressionistic scenes. I’m happy to advise based on the moment you’d like painted and where you plan to hang the piece.

What’s included

• Pre-wedding consultation (by phone/video or messages)
• Tailored planning for your chosen scene, timing and style
• On-the-day live painting at your wedding
• Additional studio time where needed to complete the piece
• High-quality oil painting on canvas, delivered to your address (UK shipping included in price)

Travel

I am based in Shropshire and happy to travel across England, Scotland and Wales to capture your day.

• Travel is charged at £0.45 per mile from Shropshire
• Accommodation at £100 per night is required for weddings further than 50 miles away, or where an overnight stay is necessary for a safe, relaxed journey

If you’re unsure whether your location is feasible, please just ask, I am always willing to discuss options.