Award Winning Pet Portraits UK
by Sophie Parkhill

(To be signed and agreed to via contract before the commission is confirmed)
 

1. Payments & Deposits

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• Payments must be made via bank transfer, card, or PayPal using the invoice provided. Payment deadlines are stated on the invoice and must be met to retain your booking.

• A non-refundable deposit of 20% is required to secure a commission date. For larger or more complex commissions, this may be increased to up to 50%.

• The deposit covers:

  • Reserved calendar space (especially peak periods such as Christmas, Mother’s Day, etc.)

  • Any materials purchased or used

  • Framing costs, if the work has entered production

• In line with the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, clients may cancel within 14 calendar days of booking for a full refund if work has not yet started. If the artist has started the commission during this period with the client's consent, ie a last minute booking, the deposit reflects the value of work done and will not be refunded. In some circumstances, a portion of the deposit may be agreed to be refundable, depending on the amount of work that has been completed (i.e., if only the outlines have been created and no colour materials have yet been used, a portion of the deposit may be still honoured) It is very important to inform the artist at sophie@spwildlifeart.com as soon as possible. 

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2. Style & Satisfaction

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• Clients are encouraged to review past works at www.spwildlifeart.com before booking.

• By paying the deposit, clients confirm they accept the artist’s style and quality of work as shown in previous commissions.

• If, in the rare case, a client is entirely unsatisfied with the final artwork:

  • No further payment will be required

  • The completed artwork remains the sole property of the artist and may be exhibited or sold

  • No final unwatermarked images will be provided to the client

• Any unauthorised use of the final image, including but not limited to digital sharing, printing, or online publication, without full payment for the artwork itself, will result in further action being taken in accordance with UK Copyright Laws.

• The copyright of the final artwork remains entirely with the artist, Sophie Parkhill / SP Wildlife Art, and no rights are transferred to the client at any stage unless otherwise agreed in writing.

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3. Copyright & Image Usage
 

• Reference photos must be provided by the client or taken by the artist (complimentary for clients within 15 miles of Prestatyn).

• If the photo was taken by a third-party photographer, the client must obtain permission for its use from the photographer before painting commences. The artist holds no liability for unauthorised usage.

• All photography taken by the artist and all final commissioned artworks remain the copyright of the artist.

• Clients may not reproduce the artwork (including making prints) without prior written consent. The artist uses professional print services to maintain quality and ARTSure certification for all artwork in their name. A reduced offer can be arranged for any clients desiring extra art prints to be included of their commissioned painting, including greetings card's. Please discuss this with the artist during your initial enquiry.

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4. Artistic Process & Timeline

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• The artist will review reference photos and confirm the commission is feasible before accepting any deposit payment.

• A layout preview will be shared for approval before work begins and any layout alterations must be discussed prior to the start date.

• Progress updates will be provided throughout the commission timeline, unless the client states they wish it to be kept as a final surprise reveal.

• As all artworks are hand-painted by the artist, delays may occur due to illness or exceptional circumstances. Clients will be notified promptly in such cases.

• A watermarked preview of the final painting will be provided for approval. Upon approval, the remaining balance is due. Work will not be delivered until full payment has been made. A telephone number or email address must be provided for tracking details.

• Whenever possible, artwork is hand-delivered to reduce the risk of damage. Where not feasible, Parcelforce 24hr Express is used, to limit the time in transport. 

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5. Framing, Materials & Care

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For Pastel Commissions

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• Created with high-quality archival materials including Clairefontaine Pastelmat or Canson Velvet where stock is unavailable for Pastelmat. Only professional pastel brands with lightfast and archival properties are used. These include but are not limited to; Unison, Sennelier, Schminke, Carbothello, Faber Castell, Toison D'or, Caran D'ache, Conte A Paris, Jacksons, SAA Professional Range.

• Must be framed under glass (preferably Artglass for UV protection). Do not frame behind acrylic glass as the static may "lift" the pastel particles.

• Do not allow any framer to use fixative or spray the pastel — this will damage the work. The artist is not liable for damage caused by improper framing which does not follow the guidelines provided.

• Keep out of direct sunlight and out of damn conditions.

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For Acrylic Commissions

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• Created using professional-grade acrylics and surfaces, including but not limited to; Golden, Winsor & Newton, Liquitex, SAA Professional Range, Jacksons cradled panels, Ambersand Gessobord, HM Linen and Cotton professional grade canvases, Winsor & Newton Cotton professional canvases, fully prepared and treated cradled wooden panels. 

• An isolation coat and final varnish (Satin MSA with UVLS) are applied once the artwork is approved. This final isolated image is non-changeable, however, the varnish can be removed and replaced when needed. Please email sophie@spwildlifeart.com for instructions on how to do this safely.

• A minimum of two weeks is required between the final varnishing and delivery/collection (or four to five weeks if shipping in packaging) to ensure the finish fully cures.

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Care Guides, Collector Packs, and Gloves are included with all commissioned works and Limited Edition Giclee Prints. It is strongly recommended that all framing is carried out by a professional.

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6. Social Media, Marketing & Future Use

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• The artist retains the right to share images and work-in-progress photos for promotional use across their website, newsletter, and social media.

• Clients may request that images are not published until after gifting (e.g. birthdays, Christmas) but this must be done prior to the work commencing.

• Gift reveal photos or videos are welcomed for the use of the artist sharing as advertisements on social media and newsletters, with client permission. These are thanked with a complimentary set of 5 greetings cards which have the image printed on the front, and a blank inside to be able to use for any occassion. Please contact Sophie via sophie@spwildlifeart.com with the images/videos of gifting the work/unpackaging' "the reveal", in order to claim the 5 free cards. 

• Artwork may be used in printed ranges such as greeting cards or calendars (e.g. breed-themed cards). If you do not wish your commission to be used in this way, please inform the artist during booking.

• For any artwork used in future ranges, the client will receive a complimentary pack of five cards as a special thank you.

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7. EU, Northern Ireland and Worldwide Shipping

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Due to current UK GPSR regulations, commissions and artwork sales cannot be shipped to EU countries or Northern Ireland at this time. We regret this restriction and appreciate your understanding.

 

For other orders outside of the UK, please complete the contact form as normal and include your destination country. The quote provided will include the additional overseas postage. You must request framing at this point, as postage quotes will be related to the weight and size of the parcel. Framing requested after completion, may increase the postage cost previously quoted. 

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