Commission a Sculpture that Inspires and Endures

The Commission Process : From Idea to Installation

The process of commissioning a sculpture is a collaborative and deeply rewarding journey. With a remarkable career spanning over 30 years, Jack specialises in creating bespoke sculptures that expertly blend traditional craftsmanship with innovative and modern techniques. Here’s a detailed, step-by-step look at what you can expect when you decide to commission a truly unique and meaningful piece of art.

Introduction & Consultation

The journey begins with you. Reach out to us by phone or email to share your unique vision and ideas. This initial conversation serves as an opportunity to discuss your concepts in detail, the desired artistic style and the specific location where the sculpture will be displayed. Engaging in this dialogue helps us fully understand the scope and nuances of your project, while also allowing you to provide a comprehensive creative brief to guide the process.

Concept Development

Once the overall vision is clearly established, Jack will begin developing the initial concepts for your sculpture. You will have the opportunity to review these preliminary ideas, which might include detailed drawings, handcrafted clay models or digital design renderings. Your feedback during this stage is essential, as Jack will carefully refine and adjust the concept to ensure it perfectly aligns with your personal aesthetic preferences and the intended space where the sculpture will be displayed.

Materials & Budget

Whether you envision the timeless appeal and warmth of bronze or the sleek, modern finish of stainless steel, Jack will thoughtfully recommend the best materials to perfectly match your artistic vision as well as your practical needs, such as whether the piece will be displayed indoors or outdoors. You can expect to receive a comprehensive and detailed cost estimate that clearly outlines all expenses, including materials, skilled labour, shipping and any additional fees that may apply.

A Transparent Approach to High Value Bronze

In the traditional art market, the price of a bronze sculpture is often obscured by layers of commission applied to the entire value of the work, including the industrial manufacturing costs. This gross margin model frequently inflates the final price to the collector without adding value to the artwork itself. Traditionally, a bronze's retail price was determined roughly by the 33/33/33 split, in more recent years this has evolved. The foundry production equates roughly to 30%–40% of the retail price. The gallery commission ranges from 33%–50% of the retail price and the artist gets the remainder. After paying the foundry and gallery commission, the artist is frequently left with only 10%–25% to cover their studio rent, years of training and the actual art.

We Operate Differently

We have adopted a segregated costing profile. This model decouples the artist’s creative fee from the industrial manufacturing costs. This ensures that when you commission a unique work, you are paying for the artists time, talent and intellectual property, while paying a fair market rate for the physical casting, without hidden markups.

How We Structure Your Costing

Every unique commission proposal is broken down into two distinct, transparent figures.

The Artist Creative Fee (The Art)

This is the value of the unique design, the sculpting labour and the Intellectual Property.

Variable & flexible, this fee is assessed individually for each unique work based on complexity, scale and research required.

The commissionable base, if you are working with an interior designer, garden designer or art consultant, the proportional mark-up, is applied only to this component.

The Production Allowance (The Industry)

This is the pass through cost of converting the sculpture into bronze, including pattern making, moulding, casting, chasing and patination.

The Direct from Studio Advantage

To maintain the integrity and value of the work, the method of production dictates how the work is stamped (hallmarked). This provides future collectors with a permanent record of the sculpture's provenance.

We offer three tiers of fabrication, each with a distinct Stamping Profile:

The Studio Cast

Pattern making, investing, casting, chasing and patination entirely in house within my own private foundry. These works bear the stamp insigne of the foundry, alongside the artist’s signature, PU 1/1 (unique piece) signifies that this is a one of a kind work, never to be editioned and a unique authentication number.

These works represent the the most authentic, every aspect the process is supervised or undertaken by me, with specific attention on the final finishing and patination.

The Partner Cast

Cast by one of our trusted external fine art foundries, under my aesthetic supervision. These works bear the artist’s signature, PU 1/1 (unique piece) signifies that this is a one of a kind work, never to be editioned, the partner foundry’s mark if applicable and a specific unique authentication number.

Tier 3: The Licensed Cast

In rare cases where a client or architect wishes to manage fabrication independently (eg, internationally), we will grant a Licence to manufacture. These works will have an association, but do not carry our foundry mark or an authentication identification number. While authentic designs, these works are distinguished from studio casts in the secondary market.

Formal Agreement & Timeline

To ensure complete clarity and mutual understanding, you will receive a detailed contract that clearly outlines the project scope, payment schedule and overall timeline. An initial deposit is required to officially begin the project, with subsequent payments carefully scheduled at key milestones throughout the entire creation process.

Creation & Craftsmanship

With the agreement firmly in place, the creative work begins promptly in Jack’s studio. He expertly combines a blend of traditional lost wax bronze casting methods with innovative modern digital techniques such as 3D scanning and precise 3D printing. Throughout the entire process, you will receive regular progress updates, including detailed photos, allowing you to closely follow and truly appreciate your sculpture as it takes shape and evolves.

Finishing, Authentication & Patina

This is where the true magic happens. Patinas are carefully created by skill fully layering various oxides and pigments, resulting in beautifully unique colours and intricate patterns on the bronze surface. Jack works closely and attentively with each client to develop a completely custom finish tailored to their vision. Once the process is complete, every individual piece is authenticated with a unique reference number, Jack’s signature and an official "PU" mark for authenticity.

Delivery & Installation

Your finished sculpture will be carefully and securely packed in a bespoke wooden crate specifically designed to protect it during transport. We can also arrange reliable shipping through reputable couriers and coordinate professional installers to ensure the proper setup of more complex or larger pieces.

Aftercare & Ongoing Support

We offer detailed maintenance guidelines to help you preserve the beauty and integrity of your artwork. Additionally, we will remain available to answer any questions you may have about repairs, conservation or even future reinstallation needs, ensuring ongoing support for your sculpture.

How to Begin

We invite private clients, landscape architects and consultants to discuss their projects directly. Because we determine the artist creative fee on a per piece basis, we can tailor a proposal that aligns with your specific site and budget requirements.