Commission an original portrait of someone you love
Hello, I'm Mat and I love to paint portraits. You can commission me to paint a stunning, colourful portrait of you, your friends, family or pet! I love to capture the unique essence of my subjects and bringing them to life on canvas with a vibrant and dynamic colour palette.
I offer a range of styles that you can see below to suit your personal taste and preference. If you're looking for a bright, colourful and fun portrait, I'm here to work with you every step of the way to create a piece of art that truly reflects the personality of the subject. With my attention to detail and commitment to quality, you can trust that your commissioned portrait will be a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that you'll treasure for years to come.
So, if you're ready to own a unique and personal piece of art, contact me and let's create something truly special!
Tour my show
In early July 2023 I had a pop-up show at Bloom Gallery in Valencia. I made a special video tour of the exhibition just for you ;)
Examples of my work
Colourful portraits
All my portraits are painted from reference photos, re-imagining your friend or family member in a bright and exciting colour palette. You can decide what colours you'd like me to use, or I can make some suggestions based on what you tell me about the subject.
Commissioning a colourful portrait is an excellent way to create a stunning, unique piece of art that reflects the subject's personality and style. I love bold and striking colour palettes and I'll work with you to choose a colour scheme that works perfectly.
You can choose from a variety of canvas sizes with 40cm x 40cm square being the most popular. Colourful portraits start from €400 for a unique 40cm x 40cm painting.
Realistic colour portraits
From subtle expressions to intricate details, I strive to create a portrait that truly captures the essence of the subject and brings it to life on canvas. Photos painted with a realistic colour palette are best when I have a high-quality photo to work from. Ideally I'd take these photos myself, but feel free to send me your photo to check if it's good enough to paint from.
I can paint any size canvas imaginable, but a common size is 40cm x 55cm. These portraits start from €500 depending on size.
Gold portraits
You can commission a painting with a beautiful golden sheen in the background, perfect for your friends with a bling addiction! A gold leaf background provides a unique and eye-catching backdrop that can elevate any portrait, from traditional to contemporary styles.
You can choose from composition gold - actually a mixture of copper and tin but looks just like the real thing - or real 24 karat gold leaf (99.9% gold) which is a lot more expensive but worth the cost.
As a guide price, a 40cm x 40cm painting with composition gold starts from €400, using real gold leaf will cost from €550.
Creative portraits
If you're looking for something a bit different, we can chat about creative ways to really make your favourite person look unique! I offer a variety of styles or techniques, imagination is the only limit.
Whether you're looking for an abstract and surreal piece, a pop art-inspired portrait, or a painting with mixed media elements, I have the skills and expertise to bring your vision to life.
A 40cm x 40cm creative portrait starts from €550.
Couples
Why not commission a beautiful portrait of your favourite couple for their wedding or anniversary? These are painted onto wide canvases perfect for two people. The finished piece is a true work of art that captures the essence of a relationship.
As an example, an 80cm x 40cm portrait for two people starts at €750.
Children
Commissioning a portrait of your child is a beautiful way to capture a moment in time and create a lasting memory that you can cherish for years to come. I understand the importance of capturing the unique personality and spirit of a child in my paintings.
When you commission me to paint your child, I will work closely with you to ensure that every detail is captured, from the twinkle in their eye to the curve of their smile. I strive to create a portrait that not only captures their likeness but also their personality and essence.
Your idea goes here
If you've got a specific idea for a portrait or style, let me know! I really want to work with you to create the perfect portrait that you've always wanted. Maybe you see yourself as a medieval knight in shining armour, or you'd like a portrait of great aunt Mabel dressed as a Pokemon, or to commemorate a pet that you loved so dearly.
Get in touch to discuss your idea.
Watch me paint
You can see how my portraits progress in this short video showing the whole process of painting Belén:
Let's get started
Get in touch to discuss your ideas and we'll start from there. The best possible option is to arrange a time for me to take my own reference photos, that we can get the perfect pose and lighting. I know this isn't always possible, especially if it's going to be a surprise. The alternative is to send me some high-quality reference images that I can paint from.
I ask for 50% of the cost in advance to guarantee space in my schedule, and we'll agree a delivery date. While I'm painting I'll send you regular progress photos so that you can see how it's coming along. Once it's finished I can either hand-deliver if you live nearby, or I can arrange shipping at extra cost. I'm in Valencia in Spain, so if it's being sent outside of the EU (to the UK, for example) then there will be extra import duty to pay, sadly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get in touch
Fill in the form below and I'll be in touch soon.
Alternatively you can email me at hello@matconnolley.com or call +44 (01208) 226522.