Portrait Painter Greater London
Commission an oil portrait in Greater London 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 Greater London, from the historic squares of Mayfair, Kensington and Chelsea through to the boardrooms and family homes of the City, Hampstead and Richmond.
The Art of Portrait Painting in Greater London
Greater London 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 Greater London and the wider Greater London 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 Greater London
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 Greater London
London is the city that more or less invented modern portraiture, and for a painter it is impossible to walk through the West End without feeling the weight of that lineage. Reynolds, Gainsborough, Lawrence and Sargent all worked within a mile or two of each other, and the rooms they painted for — Mayfair drawing rooms, livery halls, college dining halls, embassies — still commission portraits today. Hazel feels that continuity every time she takes on a London sitter. There is an expectation in the city that a commissioned portrait will be done properly, and that is exactly the kind of brief she enjoys most.
She admires the cultural infrastructure London has built around its art. The National Portrait Gallery off Trafalgar Square is the single most important portrait collection in the world, and Hazel has spent more days there than she can easily count — both for the historical rooms and the contemporary commissions that arrive each year for the BP Portrait Award. The Royal Academy on Piccadilly, the Wallace Collection in Manchester Square, and the Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House round out a network that makes London a serious place to look at painting.
London commissions in Hazel’s studio span a remarkable range — a chairman of a City institution, a young family in a Holland Park townhouse, a child whose grandparents emigrated from Lagos in the 1960s, a hospital consultant retiring from Great Ormond Street. The brief in each case is different but the standard is consistent: the portrait must hold its own against a wall of family photographs and earlier paintings, and against the visual richness of London itself.
What Hazel values most about her London sitters is their seriousness about what a portrait is for. London people are unusually conscious that a painting will outlive them, and they bring that awareness into the studio with them. The conversations during a London sitting tend to be among the most interesting she has, and the resulting portraits often carry a depth that surprises both Hazel and the client when the final varnish goes on.
How to Commission a Portrait from Greater London
Commissioning a portrait from Hazel Morgan is a collaborative and enjoyable experience, regardless of where you are located in Greater London. 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 Greater London, 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 Greater London typically receive their portrait within one to two weeks of completion.
Get in Touch for a Personalised Consultation in Greater London
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 Greater London 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 Greater London 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.
Greater London areas where Hazel’s clients live
Hazel’s commissions come from clients across the county, including in:
- Mayfair, Belgravia, Knightsbridge and Chelsea in the central west
- Kensington, Holland Park, Notting Hill and Bayswater
- Hampstead, Highgate, Primrose Hill and St John’s Wood in the north
- Marylebone, Fitzrovia, Bloomsbury and Soho
- The City, Spitalfields and Clerkenwell
- Richmond, Barnes, Putney and Wimbledon in the south-west
- Greenwich, Blackheath and Dulwich in the south-east
- Islington, Stoke Newington and Hackney in the east
- Canary Wharf, Wapping and the Docklands
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.