Private Commissions

Alex Graham Alex Graham This portrait of my friend, Alexander Graham, a retired Senior Justice in Ontario, was commissioned by his family. Since this piece was intended as a retirement surprise, much guile was needed to have the appropriate viewings for his wife, Sandra, as the work progressed. We developed a rather Byzantine approach in which I would call his daughter who would then telephone her Mom so Alex would be left in the dark. This is not the first, or I expect the last, time that a surprise painting took some subterfuge.

Garden Statuary Garden Statuary This painting combines several factors. The garden statue and some of the flowers come from the garden of the people who commissioned this painting, while most of the setting was inspired by Pashley Manor, an award-winning English garden.

Holm's Mill Holm's Mill Painted for a descendant of Neihls Peterson Holm who built this stone mill in the 1850s, this building near the Black Bridge in Cambridge has weathered many years, numerous owners and multiple uses.

Our Family Heritage Our Family Heritage Sometimes people wish to commemorate their family in occupations that happened years ago. In this case, a local optometrist commissioned a Victorian era painting showing his grandfather’s green grocers shop. Note the "glasses" sign next to it that pays tribute to the eye business.

Springtime In Brampton Springtime In Brampton Many years ago this commissioner's great, great grandfather was a shoemaker in Brampton, Ontario. This painting depicts that era. Working from archival maps and old paintings and etchings of the town I was able to reconstruct this street scene. The couple at the cordwainers shop shown at left represent those relatives from so many years ago. We reproduced this work and some copies found their way back to relatives in Ireland from whence that great, great grandfather had come.

Hole 5 Mid-Ocean Golf Course Hole 5 Mid-Ocean Golf Course For a number of years now I have had representation by the Windjammer Gallery in Bermuda. Trips to this ideal island location provide much material for painting. The commissioner of this painting is fortunate enough to live on the edge of the Mid-Ocean Golf Course at Tuckerstown, Bermuda. I greatly enjoy the sights and the sites that I am introduced to by commission projects. This is no exception.

Gatcombe Park Gatcombe Park This painting was commissioned by an English gentleman who now lives in Canada. In his office he wanted a scene that put him in mind of the Cotswolds and together we settled on a scene from Princess AnneÆs country place, Gatcombe Park. I have a dealer, John Noott Twentieth Century, quite near Gatcombe in a village called Broadway. I have often been in this area so this commission took me back to familiar territory.

Approach To Solitude Summer View Approach to Solitude and Summer View These two paintings were commissioned by a cottage-owner near North Bay, Ontario, Canada.   I had earlier painted his cottage. These two smaller works were intended as companion pieces to round out the portrait of his property. As with all commissions, I went to see the site so I could assess the visual possibilities.

Maple Haven Farm Maple Haven Farm Wouldn’t we all wish to own a century-old stone house situated on a farm with a tree-lined lane? The people who commissioned this painting actually do. These people purchased several paintings from me years ago and felt now they wanted an original painting of their own place. Also on their list of details to include were Hereford cattle - he is a gentleman farmer - as well as their own horses and their dog, a Dalmation named ôJ.C.ö. It is such a pleasure to create this personalized historic painting after visiting with them.

Playing In The Leaves - Subscribed (Unavailable) Playing In The Leaves Although most Canadians can relate to this childhood activity, the situation pictured here shows a house outside of Listowel. The commissioner who lives in Toronto and works in the securities business remembers fondly this scene at his childhood home.

Ireland Don H. This view of Ireland was one of three paintings commissioned by a man for his wife’s fiftieth birthday year. This Christmas surprise followed their visit to Ireland. Fortunately, I had visited that area only two years previously and so had terrific material from which to work. The other two paintings, also surprises, depicted his wife and grandchildren in a garden setting while the third showed their cottage in the Kingston, Ontario area.

Elmwood Memories Elmwood Memories A scene of "salting" the cattle freezes in time a common activity for this farm family near St. George, Ontario. It was important to the family that their painting include a particular model and year of car as well as many details such as the farm in the background. All of the brothers and sisters were involved as we developed this work. It was an enjoyable association for me and I was sorry when the painting was done.