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by Devin Smith
Brushed with Love: Live Wedding Painting by Devin
<p>An oil painting requires time, skill, and a trained eye. Mine has been developing for twenty years.</p><p>I hold an MA in Fine Art and have worked as a professional artist since 2013. At your wedding, I bring that same commitment to craft — arriving early, building the scene carefully from life, and dedicating a minimum of ten hours of studio time to the finished piece after the day. What you receive isn't just a record of your wedding. It's a considered, detailed oil painting by an artist who takes the work seriously. That's an investment in something that will still be on your wall — and still meaning something — long after everything else from the day has faded.</p><p><strong>How it works</strong></p><p><strong>Step 1 — Planning your painting</strong></p><p>Before the wedding, we'll talk through the moment you want captured, the scene you have in mind, and who you'd like included. Any scene is possible — the ceremony, that quiet glow between the vows and the reception, the wedding breakfast, or the first dance. I'll confirm timings and any practical details so everything runs smoothly on the day.</p><p><strong>Step 2 — Arrival and background</strong></p><p>I arrive from the start of the day — or as soon as the venue permits — to begin painting the background and setting from life. This typically takes around two hours and means the scene is already established and waiting when your chosen moment arrives. Worth letting your venue coordinator know I'll need a plug socket nearby for a lamp.</p><p><strong>Step 3 — The moment, captured live</strong></p><p>Throughout your day I paint live while guests watch the artwork develop. At the key moment you've chosen, I take reference photographs to preserve expressions and details accurately — so nothing important is lost in the movement of the day.</p><p><strong>Step 4 — Studio finishing and delivery</strong></p><p>After the wedding I take the painting back to the studio for a minimum of ten hours of further development and refinement — more for larger or more complex compositions. The finished piece is varnished for protection and longevity, then returned to you by hand, collection, or insured post.</p><p><strong>Adding guests</strong></p><p>Additional people can be included in two ways. Detailed portraits — painted realistically from reference photos — are £50 per person. Figurative guests, painted more loosely and atmospherically, are included at no extra cost. If someone doesn't make it into the painting on the day, that's not a problem — they can be added from photographs during studio time.</p><p><strong>Packages</strong></p><p><strong>24 × 30 inch — £1,500</strong></p><p><em>Best for: a beautifully composed scene with the couple as the clear focal point. A considerate size that works in almost any room without demanding the wall.</em></p><p><strong>24 × 36 inch — £1,700</strong></p><p><em>Best for: couples who want a wider canvas — more room for setting, atmosphere, and the people around them, while keeping the couple central.</em></p><p><strong>32 × 40 inch — £2,000</strong></p><p><em>Best for: a statement piece. The larger canvas allows for a richer, more complex composition — full figures, architectural detail, and the full emotional weight of the moment. A painting at this scale is made to be the centrepiece of a room.</em></p><p><em>All sizes are guidelines — other dimensions can be accommodated. Just mention it when you enquire.</em></p><p><strong>What's included</strong></p><ul><li>Pre-wedding consultation to plan your scene, moment, and composition</li><li>Full live painting on the day, beginning with background built from life</li><li>Reference photography at your chosen moment</li><li>Figurative additional guests at no extra cost</li><li>Detailed portrait additions at £50 per person</li><li>Minimum 10 hours studio finishing after the wedding</li><li>Varnishing for colour protection and longevity</li><li>Return by hand, collection, or insured post</li></ul><p><strong>Completion time</strong></p><p>Typically one to two months, depending on the complexity of the scene and number of subjects — accounting for studio time, drying, and finishing.</p><p><strong>Destination weddings</strong></p><p>For select couples getting married abroad, I offer a bespoke painting of your wedding location for the cost of travel and expenses — in return for a few extra days to explore the destination. If you're planning a wedding abroad, it's worth asking.</p><p><strong>To enquire, send your:</strong></p><p>Wedding date · Venue or location · The moment you'd most love captured</p><p><em>Devin is based in Norfolk and available across the UK. Travel is factored into your quote.</em></p>
