Commission an oil portrait in City of 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 City of London, from the livery halls and historic squares of the Square Mile to the boardrooms and council chambers of the City’s institutions.
The Art of Portrait Painting in City of London
City of 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 City of London and the wider City of 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 City of 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 City of London
The City of London is, geographically, the smallest of the English ceremonial counties — just a square mile — but it contains a density of portrait commissioning that is essentially unmatched anywhere in the world. The livery companies (the Mercers, the Goldsmiths, the Fishmongers, the Drapers), the Inns of Court, the Lord Mayor’s Mansion House and Guildhall, the great City banks and law firms have been commissioning portraits continuously since the sixteenth century. For Hazel, working in the City means working in a tradition that has never been interrupted.
She admires the City’s cultural confidence. The Guildhall Art Gallery contains the City of London’s official portrait collection — Lord Mayors, Sheriffs, civic dignitaries painted by every generation since the Tudors. The Bank of England Museum, the Charterhouse historic almshouse, and the Foundling Museum (technically just over the boundary in Bloomsbury) hold further significant portraiture. The visual continuity is remarkable.
Hazel’s City of London commissions are almost exclusively corporate and institutional. Portraits of partners, chairs, masters of livery companies, retiring senior fellows of the Inns of Court, and senior bankers leaving the City after long careers. The brief in these settings is typically conservative — the painting must hang next to several centuries of predecessors, and the visual language has to be coherent with that lineage. Hazel finds these briefs uniquely demanding and uniquely satisfying.
What Hazel most enjoys about her City commissions is the seriousness with which the painting is treated. There is no ambiguity in the City about what a portrait is for: it is a record, made carefully, intended to outlast everyone involved.
How to Commission a Portrait from City of London
Commissioning a portrait from Hazel Morgan is a collaborative and enjoyable experience, regardless of where you are located in City of 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 City of 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 City of London typically receive their portrait within one to two weeks of completion.
Get in Touch for a Personalised Consultation in City of 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 City of 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 City of 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.
City of London areas where Hazel’s clients live
Hazel’s commissions come from clients across the county, including in:
- The Square Mile — Cornhill, Cheapside and Lombard Street
- The livery halls — Goldsmiths, Mercers, Drapers, Fishmongers
- The Inns of Court — Lincoln’s Inn, Inner and Middle Temple, Gray’s Inn
- Mansion House, Guildhall and the City civic institutions
- Bank, Threadneedle Street and the financial quarter
- Smithfield, Charterhouse and the western City
- Aldgate, Houndsditch and the eastern City
- The Barbican and the City northern fringe
- The Temple, Fleet Street and the City western edge
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.