Portrait Painter Kent
Commission an oil portrait in Kent 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 Kent, from the orchards, oast houses and parkland of the Weald to the historic cathedral cities of Canterbury and Rochester.
The Art of Portrait Painting in Kent
Kent 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 Kent and the wider Kent 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 Kent
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 Kent
Kent has earned its old nickname as the Garden of England honestly. The county is a long, gentle landscape of orchards, hop gardens, oast houses and parkland, broken only by the chalk ridges of the North Downs and the dramatic white cliffs running from Dover to Folkestone. For a painter, Kent has a softness of light — particularly in early autumn, when the hops are in and the apple harvest is beginning — that few English counties can match. Hazel finds the county genuinely restorative; it sets the right pace for a portrait sitting.
She admires the cultural depth Kent has carried for centuries. Canterbury Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the mother church of the Anglican Communion, holds an extraordinary collection of memorial portraits and ecclesiastical art reaching back to the eleventh century. The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge in Canterbury, the Turner Contemporary at Margate (built around J.M.W. Turner’s long association with the Kent coast), and Sissinghurst with its Vita Sackville-West archive give the county a network that consistently draws Hazel back.
Hazel’s Kent commissions span the county geographically. Around Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and the wealthy commuter belt she paints family portraits in handsome Wealden houses with views over orchards. Around Cranbrook, Tenterden and the Weald villages, the commissions tend toward rural-life portraits — landowning families, retired professionals, occasionally a child with their first pony. Along the coast — Whitstable, Deal, Sandwich — she has painted maritime families and former military officers settled into the calmer pace of retirement.
What Hazel loves most about Kent is the easy hospitality her clients extend during a sitting. Kent people, in her experience, are unusually welcoming and unhurried; they treat the commission as a real occasion, and that warmth nearly always finds its way into the finished portrait.
How to Commission a Portrait from Kent
Commissioning a portrait from Hazel Morgan is a collaborative and enjoyable experience, regardless of where you are located in Kent. 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 Kent, 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 Kent typically receive their portrait within one to two weeks of completion.
Get in Touch for a Personalised Consultation in Kent
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 Kent 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 Kent 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.
Kent areas where Hazel’s clients live
Hazel’s commissions come from clients across the county, including in:
- Sevenoaks, Otford, Knockholt and the western Weald
- Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and the southern commuter belt
- Cranbrook, Goudhurst, Tenterden and the High Weald villages
- Canterbury, Chartham and the cathedral city villages
- Maidstone, West Malling and the central county
- Whitstable, Herne Bay and the north Kent coast
- Deal, Sandwich, Walmer and the east Kent coast
- Faversham, Sittingbourne and the orchard country
- Rochester, Chatham and the Medway towns
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.
REQUEST QUOTE