Ancestral Portraits
Ancestral portraits from photos
Ancestral Portraits From Photos
A family photograph. A lasting portrait.
Bring an older family photograph into your home as a hand-painted oil portrait, with personal guidance on composition, colour and framing.
Discuss your ancestral portraitView completed portraits
Ancestral portraits from £345 View price guide ↓
Includes VAT and free worldwide delivery as a rolled canvas.
- Painted by hand in oils
- Personal help choosing photographs
- Finished painting photographed for approval
Hand-painted ancestral portraits from your photographs
An old family photograph can provide the starting point for a hand-painted oil portrait. We create individual and family portraits from supplied photographs, including black-and-white and sepia images, with careful attention to the faces, clothing and details that make each image personal.
Your painting can follow the original photograph closely, or we can discuss changes to the background, clothing or composition. For a colour portrait from a monochrome photograph, we can discuss your preferences and any supporting references you have. Where changes are requested, an initial mock-up can be prepared before painting begins.
Send us your photograph and preferred painting size, and we will assess the available detail and provide a personalised quote.
Request a personalised quoteCompleted ancestral portraits
Select any painting to view it in full at a larger size.
From photograph to finished oil painting
The customer asked us to turn an old black-and-white photograph into a colour oil portrait. We researched the uniform colours and suggested a colour for the dress, choosing background tones to complement the clothing. The colours are an interpretation rather than a confirmed record of the originals.
The customer wanted a realistic oil portrait in colour, painted from a black-and-white photograph. With no colour photographs available, we used our judgement to interpret the hair, eye and lip colours.
An oil portrait created from the supplied reference photograph.
Created from a monochrome photograph, with colours interpreted for the finished oil painting.
An oil portrait created from the supplied reference photograph.
Colours are interpreted for the painting rather than verified from the black-and-white photograph.
Created around your photograph
Let’s choose the right portrait.
Older and faded photographs
Send us what you have and we’ll advise on what is achievable.
Colour interpretation
Where original colours are unknown, the finished colours are an interpretation.
The original setting
Keep the setting from the photograph or discuss changes before painting begins.
How it works
From your photograph to your finished portrait.
- 1Send your photographsShare your favourite photographs and the size you have in mind.
- 2Agree the details and quoteWe’ll discuss the composition, size and background options, and send your quote.
- 3Secure your commissionA 50% deposit starts your commission.
- 4Approve your finished paintingWe send photographs of the completed painting for your approval.
- 5Arrange deliveryThe balance is payable before dispatch, and we carefully pack and send your portrait to you.
If you choose framing, we send further photographs of the finished framed artwork before dispatch.
Hand-painted in oils on linen canvas
Ancestral portrait price guide
Explore guide prices for your portrait. We’ll confirm your quotation after reviewing your photograph and requirements.
Prices include VAT and free worldwide delivery as a securely rolled, unframed canvas, with a simple background. Stretching and framing are extra, and delivery for those finishes is confirmed in your quotation.
Elaborate clothing, detailed backgrounds, additional subjects and other sizes are quoted individually.
Request your personalised quote →50% deposit to begin. Balance after you approve the finished painting, before dispatch.
Sizes, prices and timescales
A clear quote for your ancestral portrait.
Your quote reflects the painting’s size, number of people and detail required. Send us your photograph and we’ll confirm the options and estimated timescale.
Prices and estimated timescales are confirmed in your quotation.
Framing your portrait
A frame to make it yours.
Choose a moulding and finish to complement your portrait and your home.
A few helpful answers
Your questions, answered.
Can you work from a faded or damaged photograph?
Yes. Send us the photograph for review. If it is old, faded or less clear, we will advise on what is achievable from the available material.
Can you paint a colour portrait from a black and white photograph?
Yes. We can create a colour oil portrait from an old black-and-white photograph. Where the original colours are unknown, the colours are an interpretation, and we can discuss your preferences and any additional reference material you have.
How are unknown colours chosen?
We discuss your preferences and any additional reference material you have, such as descriptions or other photographs. Where the original colours are unknown, the finished colours are an interpretation rather than a record of the originals.
Can you retain the original setting?
Yes. Your portrait can follow the photograph closely, or we can discuss changes to the background and composition. Where changes are requested, we can prepare an initial mock-up for approval before painting begins.
Will I see the finished portrait before delivery?
Yes. We will email you a high-resolution photograph of the finished painting for your approval before dispatch.
Explore further
Have an old family photograph?
Send it to us and tell us what you would like to create.
How it works
Send us your photographs
Share the photographs you would like us to work from, together with your preferred painting size and any changes you have in mind. If you are unsure about the size or composition, we can help you consider the options.
Agree the details and quotation
We will review your photographs and confirm the proposed composition, size, price and estimated timescale.
If you request changes to clothing, colours or the background, we can prepare an initial mock-up for approval before painting begins.
Secure your commission
A 50% deposit secures your commission and allows us to begin work. The deposit is non-refundable.
Our typical timescale is 5–6 weeks. We will confirm the estimated timing in your quotation.
Review your finished painting
When the painting is ready, we will email you a high-resolution photograph for approval.
Reasonable minor amendments are free before final approval. Substantial changes to the agreed composition will be quoted separately.
Approve and arrange delivery
The remaining 50% is payable after you approve the finished painting and before dispatch.
Delivery is free worldwide as a rolled canvas. Stretching and framing are extra, and delivery for stretched or framed portraits is confirmed in your quotation.
Portrait FAQs
What photographs should I send?
Please send the clearest, highest-resolution photographs you have. Sharp images help the artist see facial features and other important details.
If your only photograph is old, faded or less clear, send it to us for review. We can advise on what is achievable from the available material.
Can you combine people from separate photographs?
Yes. We can use separate photographs to bring people together in one family or group portrait. Send us the images you would like used and explain the arrangement you have in mind.
Can you change the background, clothing or colours?
Yes. These are common requests. We can prepare an initial mock-up showing the proposed changes for you to approve before painting begins.
Please discuss the changes you would like when requesting your quotation.
Can you create a colour portrait from a black-and-white photograph?
Yes. We can create a colour oil portrait from an old black-and-white photograph.
Where the original colours are unknown, we can discuss your preferences and any additional reference material you have.
How much does an oil portrait cost?
The price depends on the size and complexity of the painting, including the number of people or animals and the detail required.
Send us your photographs and preferred size for a personalised quote. Displayed portrait prices include VAT. The applicable VAT treatment for overseas orders will be confirmed in your quotation.
How long does a commission take?
Our typical timescale is 5–6 weeks. We will confirm the estimated timing when preparing your quotation.
If you have a particular date in mind, please tell us before ordering so we can advise on availability.
How do payments work?
A 50% non-refundable deposit secures your commission and allows work to begin.
The remaining 50% is payable after you approve the finished painting and before dispatch.
Will I see the finished painting before it is sent?
Yes. We will email you a high-resolution photograph of the finished painting for your approval before dispatch.
Can I request amendments?
Yes. Reasonable minor amendments are free before final approval.
Substantial changes to the composition agreed at the start of the commission will be quoted separately.
How will my portrait be delivered?
Rolled canvases are securely packaged in an art tube and delivered free worldwide.
Stretching and framing are extra, and delivery for stretched or framed portraits is confirmed in your quotation.
Can I have my portrait framed?
Yes. Please mention framing when requesting your quotation so we can discuss suitable options and confirm the additional costs.
