Portrait Painter Surrey
Commission an oil portrait in Surrey by award-winning UK portrait artist Hazel Morgan — from a live sitting at Hazel’s Wiltshire studio or from a carefully chosen set of photographs. Hand-delivered to clients across Surrey, from the leafy commuter villages of the Surrey Hills to the boardroom commissions of Guildford, Cobham, Esher and Weybridge.
The Art of Portrait Painting in Surrey
Surrey sits within the kind of English landscape that has drawn portrait painters, collectors and patrons for generations — a setting of period homes, country estates, parklands and parish life that rewards the traditional oil portrait. Hazel Morgan accepts commissions from private clients, families and institutions across Surrey and the wider Surrey area, producing hand-painted oil portraits suited to both period and contemporary interiors.
Each commission begins with a short conversation about the sitter — how they should be lit, what they should wear, what the portrait is meant to carry. From there, Hazel works from life sittings at her Wiltshire studio or, for clients who prefer, from a carefully chosen set of photographs. The finished oil is hand-varnished, framed to the client’s taste, and hand-delivered across the UK.
Portrait Painting Services Available in Surrey
Hazel offers a comprehensive range of portrait styles and subjects to suit every occasion and setting. Each portrait is painted entirely by hand in fine oil paints on premium Belgian linen canvas, using techniques refined over a career spanning more than four decades.
Classical & Formal Portraits
Traditional oil portraits for private collections, family legacies, and formal settings. Available as head-and-shoulders, half-length, or full-length compositions.
Corporate & Boardroom Portraits
Distinguished portraits of CEOs, directors, chancellors, and civic leaders. Painted to the exacting standards expected by boardrooms and institutional collections.
Family & Child Portraits
Intimate portraits that capture the personality and spirit of children and families. Painted from photographs or sittings to create a cherished keepsake.
Pet & Equestrian Portraits
Beautifully detailed oil paintings of beloved pets, horses, and companion animals. Each painting conveys the unique character and personality of the subject.
Memorial & Posthumous Portraits
Sensitive and respectful memorial portraits created from photographs. A meaningful way to honour the memory of a loved one through fine art.
Academic & Institutional Portraits
Portraits of chancellors, professors, benefactors, and distinguished alumni for universities, schools, and learned societies.
Why Hazel Loves Surrey
Surrey is one of the most painterly counties in the country, partly because it has remained genuinely rural in pockets that sit barely thirty miles from central London. The chalk downs of the North Downs Way, the heath and pinewoods around Pirbright and Frensham, and the wooded greensand ridge that runs from Hindhead to Leith Hill give the county a quality of light that has drawn watercolourists and oil painters since the eighteenth century. Hazel often takes the long route through Surrey on her way to a sitting, simply because the landscape is too good to drive past in a hurry.
She admires the depth of the county’s art tradition. The Watts Gallery and Artists’ Village at Compton, just outside Guildford, was built around the work and studio of G.F. Watts — one of the great Victorian portraitists — and remains one of the finest single-artist museums in the country. The Lightbox in Woking, the New Ashgate Gallery in Farnham, and the Atkinson Gallery at Millfield School round out a quietly serious cultural offer for a county better known for its commuter belt.
Surrey commissions in Hazel’s studio are often family portraits in larger country homes — Cobham, Oxshott, Esher, Virginia Water, Weybridge — where a generation of parents wants to commit to a record of children before they leave for university. Equestrian commissions are also common in the county, particularly around the Surrey Hills towards Cranleigh and Shere, where horses are still very much part of family life. The brief in these settings tends to be confident: the client knows the room the painting will hang in, and Hazel works backwards from there.
What Hazel finds most rewarding about her Surrey commissions is the unhurried quality of the process. Surrey clients tend to plan a portrait well ahead and give the work time to breathe — which is exactly the condition a painter needs to do their best work.
How to Commission a Portrait from Surrey
Commissioning a portrait from Hazel Morgan is a collaborative and enjoyable experience, regardless of where you are located in Surrey. The process has been refined over hundreds of commissions to ensure a seamless experience for every client.
Step 1: Initial Consultation
The process begins with a complimentary consultation — by telephone, video call, or email — during which Hazel discusses your vision for the portrait. This covers the subject, preferred composition, size, background, clothing, and any particular details you would like to include. There is no obligation at this stage.
Step 2: Photographs & References
For clients in Surrey, Hazel can work from professional photographs, high-quality personal photographs, or a combination of multiple reference images. She provides clear guidance on the types of photographs that produce the best results. Where feasible, live sittings can also be arranged.
Step 3: The Painting Process
Once the composition is agreed, Hazel begins painting. The process typically takes between six and twelve weeks depending on the complexity of the piece. Clients receive progress photographs at key stages so you can see the portrait taking shape and provide feedback before completion.
Step 4: Delivery & Framing
Completed portraits are professionally packaged for shipping. Shipping and framing costs are provided once the painting is complete. Hazel can also recommend master framers who specialise in fine art framing to complement your finished portrait. Clients in Surrey typically receive their portrait within one to two weeks of completion.
Get in Touch for a Personalised Consultation in Surrey
Every portrait commission is unique, and Hazel provides a personalised quotation based on your specific requirements. Factors such as the size of the canvas, the number of subjects, and the complexity of the composition are all discussed during an initial telephone consultation, which is entirely free and without obligation.
Hazel welcomes inquiries from clients in Surrey and is happy to talk through your ideas at a time that suits you. Whether you have a clear vision or are simply exploring the possibility of commissioning a portrait, she looks forward to hearing from you.
Why Clients in Surrey Choose Hazel Morgan
Hazel Morgan brings a rare combination of artistic excellence, professional reliability, and personal warmth to every commission. Here is what sets her apart:
Over 40 years of professional experience — Hazel has been painting portraits professionally since the early 1980s, amassing a body of work that spans hundreds of commissions for private, corporate, and institutional clients worldwide.
Award-winning recognition — Her work has been exhibited at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, and other prestigious venues. She is a member of several leading art societies.
A personal, one-to-one service — Unlike studio operations, every portrait is painted entirely by Hazel herself. You deal directly with the artist from first consultation through to delivery, ensuring your vision is faithfully realised.
UK and international shipping expertise — Hazel regularly delivers completed portraits to clients across the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States, and beyond. Every painting is professionally packaged to arrive in perfect condition.
Complete satisfaction guaranteed — Hazel works closely with each client throughout the painting process. Progress images are shared at every stage, and adjustments are made until you are completely happy with the finished portrait.
Surrey areas where Hazel’s clients live
Hazel’s commissions come from clients across the county, including in:
- Cobham, Oxshott, Stoke d’Abernon and the Esher villages
- Weybridge, Walton-on-Thames and Hersham along the Wey
- Guildford, Shere, Albury and the Surrey Hills villages
- Farnham, Tilford, Frensham and the western greensand
- Reigate, Dorking and the towns under the North Downs
- Virginia Water, Wentworth and the Sunningdale border
- Haslemere, Hindhead, Chiddingfold and Witley
- Epsom, Ashtead and the racing country
- Cranleigh, Ewhurst and the southern villages towards Sussex
Ready to Commission Your Portrait?
Get in touch for a free, no-obligation conversation about commissioning a bespoke oil portrait — from live sittings at Hazel’s Wiltshire studio or from photographs, delivered across the UK.
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