I always paint from life when painting a portrait.

I work quickly and I usually find that for a head and shoulders oil portrait about 12 hours is sufficient. This can be in two or three or four hour sessions, with breaks as appropriate, usually over two or three weeks.

I also paint landscape to commission.

What is a sitting like? Here is one recent sitter's views...

"I don't know what to expect, ...will it be an enjoyable experience? or difficult, maybe uncomfortable? Live adventurously, I tell myself firmly, & drive warily to my first sitting... "

  read more about the sitting...