Portrait Painter Northumberland
Commission an oil portrait in Northumberland 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 Northumberland, from the wild Northumberland coast and the historic castles at Bamburgh and Lindisfarne to the Cheviot Hills and Hadrian’s Wall country.
The Art of Portrait Painting in Northumberland
Northumberland 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 Northumberland and the wider Northumberland 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 Northumberland
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 Northumberland
Northumberland is the most thinly populated county in England — and one of the most dramatic. The wild dunes and castle skyline of the Northumberland coast at Bamburgh, Lindisfarne and Dunstanburgh, the open expanse of the Cheviot Hills, Kielder Water and Forest with its dark-sky designation, and the long line of Hadrian’s Wall running across the southern edge of the county all give Northumberland a sense of scale that very few English counties can match. For a portraitist, that scale is genuinely useful — it gives a sitter space to be present.
Hazel admires the cultural seriousness of the county. Alnwick Castle, seat of the Percy family and the Dukes of Northumberland, holds an extraordinary private collection of European and English portraiture — Van Dyck, Lely, Reynolds, Gainsborough — in rooms that are still used by the family. The Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle, the Berwick Gallery, the Cragside collection of Pre-Raphaelite painting, and the Border Reivers heritage at Hexham complete a county whose art history is genuinely substantial.
Hazel’s Northumberland commissions tend to come from landowning families in the upland country — around Wooler, Rothbury and the Coquet valley — and from coastal families with houses in Bamburgh, Beadnell, Craster and Alnmouth. The county also produces a steady stream of military and naval portraits, often tied to families with long Anglo-Scottish border histories. Hexham and the Tyne valley produce occasional academic and civic portraits.
What Hazel most enjoys about Northumberland is the patience her sitters bring. Northumberland people are unhurried in a way that other parts of England have largely forgotten, and that pace is exactly what a portrait commission needs.
How to Commission a Portrait from Northumberland
Commissioning a portrait from Hazel Morgan is a collaborative and enjoyable experience, regardless of where you are located in Northumberland. 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 Northumberland, 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 Northumberland typically receive their portrait within one to two weeks of completion.
Get in Touch for a Personalised Consultation in Northumberland
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 Northumberland 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 Northumberland 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.
Northumberland areas where Hazel’s clients live
Hazel’s commissions come from clients across the county, including in:
- Alnwick, Alnmouth and the Aln valley villages
- Bamburgh, Seahouses, Beadnell and the heritage coast
- Berwick-upon-Tweed, Spittal and the Tweed estuary
- Hexham, Corbridge and the Tyne valley villages
- Rothbury, Coquet and the central country
- Wooler, Belford and the Cheviot foothills
- Morpeth, Felton and the southern county
- Holy Island, Lindisfarne and the eastern coast
- Kielder, Bellingham and the North Tyne country
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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