Bespoke Illustration · Private & Corporate Commissions · Original Artwork
Bespoke Illustrated Gifts, Portraits & Animated Greeting Art
Custom artwork for birthdays, graduations, retirements, anniversaries, company Christmas and holiday greetings, T-shirts, team gifts and other occasions where a one-off illustration is more appropriate than something off the shelf.
These are commissioned illustrations, not live-event caricatures. I do not offer party caricature booths or on-the-spot portrait sketching. Each piece is developed in the studio from references, ideas and personal details supplied for the commission.
Commission Guide
Bespoke illustration commissions start at €200
The final fee depends on complexity, number of people, level of detail, background, technique and intended use. €200 is the starting point for a very simple, tightly defined private commission — not a fixed portrait price.
Simple Bespoke Illustration
Starting at €200
For a straightforward, limited-scope private commission — for example, one person jumping out of a birthday cake for a privately produced T-shirt. Additional people, detailed settings, complex props or more elaborate compositions increase the fee.
Original Pen, Ink & Watercolor
Typically €800–€1,400
A unique physical artwork created by hand on high-quality art paper, signed and dated. The final price depends on format, number of subjects and complexity of the composition.
Corporate, Commercial & Animated
Quoted individually
Company cards, holiday campaigns, animated greetings, merchandise, promotional artwork and other commercial uses are priced according to the artwork required and the agreed usage.
Every commission is quoted as a fixed project fee once the artwork, complexity and intended usage are clear.
Commissioned Illustration
Portraiture with a narrative, not a party sketch
These commissions sit somewhere between portraiture, character illustration and visual storytelling. The likeness matters, but so do the details that make the image specific: landscape, clothing, pets, hobbies, objects, vehicles, professions, shared jokes and small pieces of personal history.
I work from supplied photographs and background information, developing the image in the studio as a complete composition. I do not offer quick live caricatures at parties or events.
Commissioned imagery is individually drawn for the project and is not AI-generated.
Personal Commissions
Birthdays, graduations, retirements & milestone gifts
A bespoke illustration works particularly well when the occasion deserves something genuinely specific to the recipient. That might be a significant birthday, graduation, retirement, anniversary, wedding, farewell or thank-you gift.
The finished image can remain a standalone artwork or be prepared for a card, framed print, T-shirt, invitation, presentation, poster or other agreed use.
Groups & Merchandise
Group portraits, teams, bands & artwork that can travel further
Some commissions become considerably more elaborate: several people, a fully staged environment, multiple personal references or a composition intended to work across merchandise and print.
In those cases the illustration is designed with its later uses in mind, so the same artwork can retain its character when adapted to shirts, mugs, posters, cards or other agreed applications.
Corporate Greetings
Company Christmas cards, holiday greetings & animated messages
Bespoke illustration can also work particularly well for company Christmas cards, seasonal greetings, team milestones, anniversaries, internal celebrations and client communications.
These can remain as static illustrated pieces or develop into short animations with movement, timing, sound and characters based on the actual company or team.
Original Artwork
An original pen, ink & watercolor piece as the gift itself
For a more significant commission, I can create the final artwork traditionally in pen, ink and watercolor on high-quality art paper. The finished piece is a unique physical original rather than simply a reproduction of a digital image.
Original works are signed and dated and can include a handwritten dedication when appropriate. They are supplied unframed. A high-resolution digital reproduction can also be included when agreed, allowing the artwork to be used for invitations, cards, screens or additional family copies.
Depending on complexity, original commissions are typically €800–€1,400.
Process
How a bespoke commission works
- Brief discussion of the occasion and intended use
- Reference photographs and relevant personal details
- Fixed quotation based on scope
- Initial sketch or composition for review
- Final drawing, color and finishing
- High-resolution files for agreed uses
- Animation stages where required
- Optional original physical artwork
Reference Photographs
Good source photographs are essential
For portrait-based commissions, the artwork is created from the photographs you provide. I usually do not know the people personally, so I can only judge the likeness against the reference material available to me.
Clear, recent photographs showing the face, hairstyle and characteristic expressions are therefore important. Where possible, several reference images are better than one. The final illustration will be based on what you send me, so the quality and accuracy of the references directly affect the result.
Typical commissions
- Birthday & anniversary artwork
- Graduation gifts
- Retirement & farewell pieces
- Wedding & couple commissions
- Family presentation gifts
- Company Christmas & holiday cards
- Animated company greetings
- Team & company milestone illustrations
- T-shirt & merchandise artwork
- Original ink-and-watercolor presentation pieces
Related illustration work
Comics & Sequential Illustration →
Editorial & Educational Illustration →
Animated Illustrated Cards →
Hand-Drawn Animation & Explainer Videos →
Selected Case Studies →
Bespoke Commission
Have an occasion or person in mind?
Send me the occasion, intended use, number of people and a few reference photographs. A short description is enough for me to advise on the appropriate format and prepare a fixed quotation.
