Portrait Painter City of Edinburgh
Commission an oil portrait in City of Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh, from the Georgian elegance of the New Town and the Old Town’s medieval closes to the village atmosphere of Stockbridge, Morningside and Cramond.
The Art of Portrait Painting in City of Edinburgh
City of Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh and the wider City of Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh
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 Edinburgh
Edinburgh is one of the most genuinely beautiful cities in Europe and one of the most artistically serious. The Old Town and the New Town together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the visual contrast between the medieval Royal Mile climbing toward the Castle and the disciplined Georgian symmetry of Princes Street, Charlotte Square and Heriot Row is the kind of thing that quietly shapes how a painter thinks about composition. Hazel takes a long walk around Calton Hill before every Edinburgh sitting; it is the right preparation.
She admires Edinburgh’s cultural seriousness. The Scottish National Portrait Gallery on Queen Street holds the most important collection of Scottish portraiture in the world — Raeburn, Ramsay, Wilkie, Joan Eardley, all under one extraordinary red sandstone roof. The Scottish National Gallery on the Mound, the Modern One and Modern Two on Belford Road, and the Royal Scottish Academy round out an art network that very few cities in the world can match for density.
Hazel’s Edinburgh commissions span a remarkable range — academic portraits for Edinburgh University and Heriot-Watt, family portraits in the Georgian townhouses of the New Town and Stockbridge, civic and institutional commissions from the law and finance communities, and occasional country-house work from the wealthier south-side villages like Morningside and Bruntsfield. Cramond, Davidson’s Mains and Barnton in the north-west produce family portraits with sea views toward the Forth.
What Hazel most enjoys about Edinburgh is the literary consciousness her sitters bring. Edinburgh is a UNESCO City of Literature, and a portrait conversation here often opens out into ideas — about identity, place, history, the painted self — in ways that genuinely shape the resulting work.
How to Commission a Portrait from City of Edinburgh
Commissioning a portrait from Hazel Morgan is a collaborative and enjoyable experience, regardless of where you are located in City of Edinburgh. 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 Edinburgh, 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 Edinburgh typically receive their portrait within one to two weeks of completion.
Get in Touch for a Personalised Consultation in City of Edinburgh
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 Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh areas where Hazel’s clients live
Hazel’s commissions come from clients across the county, including in:
- The New Town — Charlotte Square, Heriot Row and Drummond Place
- The Old Town — the Royal Mile, Grassmarket and Canongate
- Stockbridge, Dean Village and the Water of Leith
- Morningside, Bruntsfield and the south-side villages
- Cramond, Davidson’s Mains and Barnton
- Leith, The Shore and the waterfront
- Murrayfield, Ravelston and the western suburbs
- Marchmont, the Meadows and the south-central villages
- Corstorphine, Costorphine Hill and the 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.
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