If you are interested in chatting to Bill about commissioning either a bronze sculpture or an
original 
wood carving, then please take time to read the section on Commissioning a Sculpture below. If you would like to see some previously commissioned pieces, then please follow this link or click the photo (right).
A previous client has said the following, regarding the commissioning of a sculpture from Bill:
“I had never commissioned anything before, let alone a bronze sculpture, so I was delighted to work with Bill and Lesley as they made the whole process so easy and understandable. After some email exchanges, we went to see Bill in his studio to view the Plasticine model he had made. Some on the spot changes were agreed and we saw the final model before Bill went ahead and started sculpting. One further visit was necessary to see the beautiful Lime Wood carving before Bill went on to create the bronze on time and on budget.
Not only is Bill a great sculptor, he made us feel at ease in a situation we knew nothing about. There were no surprises on the way. That’s actually not true – we were surprised by the outstanding quality of Bill’s work at every step of the process.”
To Commission a Sculpture – a few basic facts
Bill usually has a full diary so please allow plenty of time for commissions. Normal procedure with commissions is for Bill to provide an approximate quote, and to take a 50% non-returnable deposit before commencement of the sculpture. The final amount is payable before delivery (or, in the case of bronzes, after the master has been vetted by the client, prior to casting). Delivery or installation is not normally included in the quote, unless specifically stated.
When commissioning a sculpture it is important to note that even a very simple piece will take at least a week to design and produce, a more complex sculpture can take up to several months, and has to be costed accordingly.
All commissions are treated with the same care and attention to detail. Bill is experienced at guiding you through the commission process and in producing work to deadlines.
Sculptures of Pets
Bill is happy to consider commissions for sculptures of individual pets, but in order to capture the character, proportions and unique features of the animal accurately, he needs to be able to spend time with the pet in person. This allows him to take detailed measurements, photographs and video reference material.
The commissioning process also requires the client to visit Bill’s studio to view and approve the completed clay sculpture before it is sent to the foundry for casting in bronze. This ensures that the client is completely happy with the likeness before the considerable expense of the bronze casting process is undertaken.
Commissioning a Bronze Sculpture
If you are interested in commissioning a “one-off” bronze, please remember that the prices of bronzes on our website cannot be used as a guide. We normally produce our bronzes as limited editions, which means the cost of producing the original model (all bronzes are cast from some kind of original model – see “About the Sculptures“) is spread across the whole edition.
One of Bill’s previous commissions – a full size pair of flatcoat retrievers. Click to see more images.
As you can see from the “About Sculptures” section, it is a complex process and so original “one off” bronzes, will start at several thousand pounds. Bronze resins are slightly cheaper, but the cost of producing the original, and then making the mould and casting, still has to be included.
All quotes for commissions are based on “one off” sculptures. Bill retains all the intellectual property rights to his work and images of his work, including commissions unless otherwise agreed with the client. For some further information, please visit our “Terms and Conditions” page.
If you have any further questions or would like to chat with us about a commission, please contact us (also, details at bottom of page).