Can I buy paintings online here?
Yes. You can buy any painting that has a price and an 'Add to Basket' button. You can also buy Limited Edition prints, and photographs in exactly the same way. To buy, just click on the thumbnail of the picture you like. You will see a larger image for you to judge its colour and suitability more accurately. You will also see the price of the picture, in fact you may see several prices, depending on whether it is an original or a print. For example, you may be able to buy an original, or a Limited Edition print of the same. And you may have the option of buying it framed or unframed. Select the option you want, and click on 'Add to Basket'. Remember, you can always take it out of your basket later if you change your mind. Back to Top
How do I pay?
When you add a painting to your shopping basket by clicking on the 'Add to Basket' button, you are directed to the secure PayPal site, which is where you actually make your payment. If you are already registered with PayPal, you will be able to checkout and pay straight away. If you have never used PayPal before, registration is quick and easy. You will be guided through the process in easy stages. If you want to buy another painting or photograph, use you browser's 'Back' button to go back to this site, and click on the 'Add to Basket' button again. When you have completed all your purchases, simply select the 'Checkout' button on the PayPal site to complete your purchase. Back to Top
Do I have to use PayPal?
No. If you wish to pay by some other method, e-mail us, and tell us what you would like to buy, and where you live. We accept several forms of payment. We cannot yet accept credit or debit cards directly, but you can use these cards via PayPal. Back to Top
Can I pay by Credit Card?
Yes. Because we use PayPal as our payments processor, you can use any form of payment accepted by PayPal, including Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and, of course, any PayPal balance that you may have. Back to Top
Do the prices include shipping?
Prices for unframed originals, prints and photographs include shipping anywhere in the world. Prices for framed originals, prints and photographs include shipping to the UK only. If you live in the USA, or Canada, you can either pay the additional cost for air freight for a framed work, (usually about £50 to £100), or you can have the unframed work delivered to one of framing affiliates. If you live elsewhere, you can buy the work unframed, and arrange framing yourself, or you can pay the additional cost for air freight, (usually about £50 to £100). Back to Top
How do I know if there are additional costs to pay for shipping?
We will advise you as soon as we receive your order via the PayPal system, or, if you are not using PayPal, as soon as we receive an e-mail from you. Back to Top
What about import duties?
If you buy a painting, as with any purchase, you are responsible for paying any import taxes or customs duties levied at the point of entry into your own country. If you live in one of the countries of the European Union, there will be no such payments due. Elsewhere, the duties or taxes payable. Normally, these will be paid by the carrier on your behalf, and they will send you a bill, either before or after delivery, but different countries have different arrangements. If you have not bought from overseas before, you should enquire locally to see what provisions must be made. We cannot advise on such things, because they are subject to change. We will, however, provide a suitable description in the form of a Customs Declaration, which will also indicate the price paid in £ Sterling. Back to Top
Are online payments secure?
Yes. Most experts agree that there is less risk in paying for goods online at a secure site than, for example, handing your card over to a waiter at a restaurant! The PayPal, as one of the world's leading payment sites, is very secure indeed. Read more about how seriously PayPal takes security here. Please note that we do not retain any of your personal details, nor any details of Credit Card numbers, on this site: these are only entered into the secure PayPal site. Back to Top
Do your paintings and prints come with a Certificate of Authenticity?
Yes. All paintings and prints are supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity. In addition, all originals are signed in pencil on the paper or canvas. Limited Edition prints are signed in pencil, usually on the print or on the mount, and also have a print number and total print count, e.g. '12/125'. Back to Top
Do I need to add VAT?
I am not currently VAT Registered, so no VAT is payable to me. You may, however, be liable for VAT in you own country, although this is unlikely. Back to Top
Do I need to add Sales Tax?
No - I am not domiciled in the USA, so US Sales Tax, (which varies from State to State), does NOT need to be added. You may, however, be assessed for Sales Tax at the point of entry into the USA. Back to Top
Is original art a good investment?
I am sure that all artists would like to think that their work will one day be as valuable as, say, a Picasso or a Van Gogh, but the reality is that only a tiny proportion of art ever becomes so valuable. I would advise anyone buying art to do so because they love it, not because they think they can profit from it. I buy art myself - in fact our very small house is bursting with paintings - but I only buy because I love the piece. I have no idea what any of these paintings, bought over the years, are now worth, and I don't care, because they bring something into my life. Back to Top
Can I buy Limited Edition prints here?
Yes. Those paintings which are available as Limited Edition prints will have the option to buy the print. In some cases, the original has already been sold, but prints are still available. In other cases, the original itself may also be available. Back to Top
What is the difference between originals and prints?
Originals are unique: if you own an original painting, you will have the only such painting in the world. A print is produced by some sort of mechanical reproduction process, perhaps involving photographs, or lithographic plates, for example. Because of this, there may be many prints in existence. Prints are almost always less valuable than the original from which they were derived, but can be just as appealing. A good quality print is almost indistinguishable from an original, except that it has virtually no visible surface texture. Back to Top
What are 'Limited Edition' prints?
'Limited Edition' prints are those which are produced in a limited set. This is usually a few hundred, sometimes more, sometimes less. Limited Edition prints are usually signed in pencil by the artist, and given a series number, such as 11/65, (which indicates that this is print number 11 out of a total of 65 produced). Back to Top
I want to buy a Limited Edition Print, but there is no price.
If you click on an original, and there is no price shown for a Print, this means that no print is available at the moment. This may be because the Limited Edition print run has sold out, in which case you will not be able to buy a print. In other cases, you may be able to buy a print, however. Just e-mail us, and we will see if a suitable high-resolution image has been archived for printing. If it has, we will be able to supply a Limited Edition Print. Back to Top
Can I buy posters of the paintings or photographs?
Yes - by visiting my shop at CafePress. Here you can also buy postcards and greeting cards with some of my better known paintings and photographs. Back to Top
Are your paintings and prints framed?
You can buy any of the paintings or prints on this site framed. All of the prints and photographs, and most of the original paintings, can also be supplied unframed. Some acrylic paintings cannot be supplied unframed because they have such thick paint that they cannot be rolled up without risk of damage. Back to Top
Can I choose my frame?
Yes. You can either select one of our standard frames, or choose from wide variety of frames from one of our framing affiliates. Back to Top
For more information, take a look at the Frames page. Back to Top
How do I order a painting in a custom frame?
You can place your order as normal, and pay using the PayPal system. Then e-mail us to advise of your framing requirements. Unless your requirements are very unusual, we will normally be able to include a custom frame in the price. Alternatively, e-mail us before making your purchase, and we can contact you to discuss your requirements. Back to Top
I live in the US/Canada. Can you provide a custom frame for me?
Yes. We can do this through one of our affiliates. Simply contact us, advise your requirements, and we will find a supplier than can deliver to you, usually at no extra charge. We will ship the original to our framers, and they will ship the finished, framed picture directly to you. We will, of course, make sure that you are happy with the frame choice before we ship. The only exception to this is for paintings which cannot be rolled in a tube for shipping: these paintings must be shipped flat, and because of the high costs of air freight, there will usually be an extra charge for this service for these particular paintings. You can recognise such paintings, because they are not available unframed. Back to Top
I live outside the UK/USA/Canada. Can you provide a custom frame for me?
At present, we do not have framing affiliates in other countries, but don't let this stop you. We are actively setting up affiliates in other countries, and will try our best to provide a suitable frame for you. Just contact us, and let us know what you are interested in, and where you live. Back to Top
Do I need to be careful where I hang a painting?
Yes. Although I use high quality pigments in my originals, it is unwise to expose original paintings to strong sunlight. Watercolours are particularly susceptible to fading, because they use relatively thin paint. Watercolours should also be protected from moisture under glass. Acrylics and oils are usually displayed without glass, and are less likely to be damaged by splashes of water, but it would be unwise to hang them in a steamy kitchen or bathroom. Never hang acrylic or oil paintings above a heating radiator or fire: the temperature changes will cause the paint to crack. Back to Top
Is there more information about choosing frames on this site?
Yes - take a look at the Frames page here. Back to Top
How can I be sure that the painting I receive looks like the web site image?
Although the images on this site have been carefully prepared, using professional colour matching software, and calibrated monitors, to give as close a match as possible to the originals, they are still very low resolution compared to the originals, and have been compressed further to make them viewable across the internet. Also, we cannot anticipate how your particular monitor or printer might display the images. This is why we offer a full money-back guarantee for all purchases: simply return the painting or print, in perfect condition, in its original packaging if possible, and you will receive a full refund. Of course, we cannot accept returns that are damaged in any way. Back to Top
What if I don't like the painting or photograph when I receive it?
Simply return it to us in perfect condition, and the original packaging, and you will receive a full refund, net of shipping costs. Back to Top
What if a painting or photograph is damaged when I receive it?
All our packages are carefully protected for transit, but accidents can happen. If you receive an obviously damaged package, make sure that you inform the person who delivers it, and sign for it as 'RECEIVED DAMAGED'. If the painting or photograph itself turns out to be damaged, you must inform us as quickly as possible, (at any rate, within seven days of receipt), so that we can raise a complaint with the carrier. If possible, we would appreciate photographs of the packaging in the condition it was received, as well as full details of the date and time of receipt, the name of the local carrier, etc. Back to Top
If I buy an original painting, can I make copies of it to sell as prints?
No. This is illegal, since the Copyright always remains with the artist who painted the original. Back to Top
OK, I don't own the Copyright, but surely I can prevent anyone else from photographing it?
Yes. You can physically prevent anyone else from photographing your painting: in any case, photographing a work of art, whether or not you intend to sell copies of it, is illegal without the consent of the artist. But, you cannot prevent the artist who, having previously photographed the painting, sells prints of it to others. This is the artist's right, as creator of the work. The artist is also the only person who can authorise the use of the work on a web site, in a book, or in any other form of reproduction. Back to Top
Can I use a photograph of a painting that I own for educational, research or review purposes?
This is usually regarded as 'Fair Use', and is not illegal, but any use of the photograph in a commercial way, such as selling prints, or using a copy of a picture on a T-shirt, for example, would be illegal. Back to Top
Can I put the painting on public display?
Yes. Back to Top
Can I resell a painting or print?
Yes, of course: it is yours to do with as you please. The only things you cannot legally do are to represent the work as your own, or to make a copy of the work, other than for 'fair use', I.e: for review, research or educational purposes. Back to Top
