I paint and draw people, from life and photographs.
I work from a converted farm bothy in East Sussex, and take portrait commissions from around the UK and beyond.
Capturing the feel of a person is very important to me. The portraits need to come to life in the process of making them.
'Honestly the best pictures I could ever have asked for! Vanessa drew the children as if she knew them inside out. I cannot rate her highly enough. We'll treasure them forever' - AM, Hampshire, UK
'Thank you so much Vanessa for your exquisite drawings, your fantastic communication and for being so lovely through the process' - AP, London, UK
I draw children from photographs (normally head and shoulders), using soft pencil on A2 paper.
We spend time at the start deciding which photographs I should draw from, based on which aspect of the child's character you want to capture.
Once I feel they are complete I send you photographs and make final changes based on your comments.
Each portrait costs £350. For an additional fee of £50 I can provide a high quality scan (from which you can make cards and prints) and one A3 print of the portrait.
The price includes the cost of UK postage/delivery. You can pay in full or by instalments, whatever works best for you.
The drawings make a beautiful gift for a partner, grandparent or friend...or for your self.
'I am so thrilled with the portraits that Vanessa drew of my son. They are absolutely beautiful and really capture his character. Vanessa went to so much trouble to make sure the portraits were everything we were hoping for and was great throughout the process, checking in and keeping me updated. She is hugely talented and I cannot recommend her highly enough. I know I will enjoy the portraits every single day...I cannot stop looking at them!' - ALP, Madrid, Spain
I paint adults in oils from a mixture of life and photographs. They are normally 2/3 length and I consider every aspect of the picture to be part of the 'portrait' - not just the face, but the clothes, the pose and the furniture and objects in the painting too.
Ideally I meet with the subject of the portrait 2 or 3 times. In the first meeting we agree on the composition and I make preparatory sketches and take photographs, which I can then work from in the studio. The cost varies, depending on size, and they normally take between 2-3 months to complete. It's a fun, collaborative process.
The paintings make a beautiful gift for a special occasion, for example a 50th or 70th birthday, or a wedding anniversary.
If you would like to know more about commissioning a portrait please be in touch.
A composition sketch
Orna sleeping in the studio
A first sitting