Commissions
Landscape Painting Commissions
A place that means something to you, painted in my distinctive style.
A favourite view, your family home, the countryside where you grew up. Commission an original painting that brings your connection to a place into your home.
I’m Michael Sutherland, a professional artist based near Bath in Wiltshire. I create expressive landscape and cityscape paintings, combining bold colour, layered texture and a strong sense of place.
We’ll work together on the subject, size and colours, creating something personal that feels at home in your space. You don’t need a finished brief—just an idea of the place you’d love me to paint.
Previous Commissions
A countryside panorama
A wide landscape painting full of colour, shifting light and small details to explore. Its panoramic shape was chosen to make the most of the wall it would live on and features owners favourite view of the By Brook Valley.
Clifton Suspension Bridge
A colourful view of Bristol, with the bridge drawing the eye through the city and surrounding trees. The finished painting brings a familiar landmark into the room in a personal, expressive way, reminding the owners of returning from family trips abroad.
A cityscape full of detail
Buildings, trees and rooftops build into a richly layered view. This commission featuring Bath shows how a place can become a painting that rewards a closer look. The owner of this piece asked for his apartment to be included and requested warm colour palette.
A river landscape
The River Wye leads through bright fields beneath a soft pink sky. Shown here in its new home, the painting was made to bring a sense of space and light to the room, and remind the owners of one of one of their favourite spots - Symonds Yat.
Your Commission, Your Experience
Commissions start from £750, with each painting individually quoted according to its size, subject, complexity and framing.
We’ll begin with a relaxed conversation about the place you have in mind, what it means to you and where your painting will live. I’ll then explain the options and provide a clear quote before you commit.
You can also choose how closely you’d like to be involved. Alongside progress photographs and opportunities for feedback, I offer studio visits, private unveilings and the chance to help create the first layers of your painting.
Whether you’re looking for a smaller personal piece or a large painting with a more immersive studio experience, we can explore what suits your ideas and budget.
A 25% booking fee reserves your commission, with the remaining balance payable after you approve the finished painting and before collection or delivery.
Tell me about the place you’d love to have painted.
The Commission Process
Initial Conversation
Every commission begins with a conversation.
We'll discuss your ideas, the location, size, colour palette and budget to make sure we create something that's perfect for both your space and your vision.
Where practical, I enjoy visiting the location myself to experience it first-hand and gather my own reference material. If that's not possible, I can work from high-quality photographs that capture the essence and character of the place.
Creating Your Painting
Once we've agreed the details, your commission is added to my diary.
Throughout the process, my aim is not simply to recreate a photograph, but to produce an original painting that captures the feeling, atmosphere and personality of a place in a way that only a painting can.
When the painting is complete, I'll send you watermarked images for approval before requesting the remaining balance.
Reasonable amendments can be requested at this stage if required.
Pricing & Booking
How much does a commission cost?
Commissions start from £750. The final price depends on the painting’s size, the complexity of the subject, your framing preferences and the experience you choose.
A small landscape and a large, detailed cityscape require different amounts of planning and painting time. During our initial conversation, we’ll explore your ideas and budget so I can recommend suitable options.
You’ll receive a written proposal explaining the total price, what’s included and the expected timescale before you decide whether to proceed.
What’s included?
Every commission includes a planning consultation, an agreed direction for the composition and colours, progress updates and opportunities for feedback. Your finished painting is signed, varnished and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
Framing, collection or delivery arrangements will be clearly set out in your quote.
Can I choose a more personal experience?
Yes. Depending on the experience you choose, your commission can include studio visits, a private unveiling or a guided session where you create the first layers of colour on your own canvas.
We can discuss these options together and decide how involved you’d like to be.
Can we work to my budget?
Please feel comfortable sharing your budget at the outset. It helps me suggest an appropriate size, format and level of detail.
If your initial idea would cost more than you had planned, we can explore whether a different size or approach would work for you.
How does payment work?
A 25% booking fee reserves your commission. The remaining 75% is payable after you approve the finished painting and before collection or delivery.
Any additional costs, such as framing or delivery, will be agreed in advance.
Have a place in mind? Get in touch and we’ll explore the possibilities together.
As a general guide:
Landscape Commissions
£0.30 per square centimetre
Cityscape Commissions
£0.45 per square centimetre
Timescales
Each painting is created entirely by hand, so timescales naturally vary throughout the year depending on my exhibition schedule and existing commission commitments.
If you have a particular deadline or special occasion in mind, please get in touch. I'll always be honest about availability and let you know whether I can meet your timeframe before any commitment is made.
Your Peace of Mind
To reserve your place in my commission diary, I ask for a 25% booking fee.
You'll then have a 7-day cooling-off period, during which your booking fee is fully refundable should you change your mind.
Once your painting is complete, I'll send you watermarked images for approval before requesting the remaining balance.
Copyright
Every commissioned painting is a unique original artwork, created especially for you.
As the artist, I retain the copyright to all artwork I create. This allows me to reproduce commissioned paintings in the future as limited edition prints, greeting cards, jigsaw puzzles, books, exhibitions or other promotional material.
Most commissioned paintings remain entirely unique, but from time to time I may choose to make selected works available as prints if I feel they would appeal to a wider audience.
If keeping your commission completely exclusive is important to you, please let me know before work begins. I'm always happy to discuss individual requirements and, where appropriate, exclusive arrangements can be agreed in advance.
Let's Talk About Your Idea
Every commission starts with a conversation.
Whether you already have a clear vision or are simply exploring the possibility of commissioning a painting, I'd love to hear your ideas. There's absolutely no obligation, and I'm always happy to discuss what's possible before you decide whether to proceed.
Please get in touch by email or complete the contact form below, and I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Full Terms & Conditions
For full details regarding booking fees, cancellations, amendments, delivery, copyright and all other commission terms, please see my Commission Terms & Conditions.