Frequently Asked Questions

a) How do I know that you are a bona fide artist who is capable of doing the work commissioned and who will not just disappear with my money? Answer

b) How much will it cost to contract your services and how do I proceed to engage you? Answer

c) How will your services be paid for? Answer

d) What about the costs of transportation, insurance and packaging? Answer

e) What if the work is not to my satisfaction? Answer

f) Can I view the progress of the work through a photo sent to me by e-mail? Answer

g) Can your terms and conditions be varied? Answer

h) Will you sign a legal contract? Answer

i) How soon can you commence the job? Answer

j) Is there any limit to size, weight or materials used on a sculpture and would you be prepared to carry out a sculpture or painting on location? Answer

k) How can I get a real view of the pictures or sculptures that you are advertising on this site? Answer

l) Do you have an agent? Answer

John in his early years.	John & his son Andrew.

Answers

a) How do I know that you are a bona fide artist who is capable of doing the work commissioned and who will not just disappear with my money? Top

I studied at Kingston art college in London from 1969-73 from where I obtained a degree in fine arts with sculpture as my specialty. I have taught art in Southern Spain for 6 years and my experience includes various portraiture commissions and a major public sculpture monuments some of which you may view on this website. I have also held various exhibitions in Spain ,Gibraltar and Morocco within the last 5 years.

You have my permanent address and phone number which can be independently verified and if you wish we can sign a legal contract. All business is governed by an element of trust. I am prepared to send work to the client and to trust the client to pay me the balance of the contract price on delivery.

I will only undertake commissions that I am capable of doing and at times this may require me to engage the services of third parties. As an artist one must understand that I have my own subjective interpretative style which comes out in all works undertaken and which is what gives it its particular flavor and appeal. It is not possible to put an objective standard on most artistic work and within this context the work will be done to the best of my artistic ability. I do not do photographic portraits since I feel that exactitude is not truth.

b) How much will it cost to contract your services and how do I proceed to engage you? Top

I cannot give you a contract price until I know what is entailed in the job. If you are interested in engaging my services the first step will be to contact me on my e-mail number which is set out on this website, specifying the work that it is that you wish to commission me for. I will first assess whether or not I am capable of doing the job and whether I need any further information. As soon as I am in a position to do so I will revert to you specifying the price of the contract , the time I estimate it will take to complete the job, payment terms, any further information required and any other matters of relevance such as the cost of installation etc...

c) How will your services be paid for? Top

If after receiving my quotation you agree to commission me to do a sculpture or a painting we would proceed as follows:

For a sculpture I would require an up front payment representing the cost of the materials plus 40% of the contract price. The cost of materials will have to be quoted separately in any sculpture job owing to the wide variation in costs. Once the job was completed I would e-mail you a photograph of the work completed. If satisfied then I would require a further 30% of the contract price. The final balance would be paid on physical receipt of the product.

For a painting which you commission I would require an upfront payment representing 66% of the contract price. Once the job was completed I would e-mail you a photograph of the work completed. The final balance would be paid on physical receipt of the product.

Payment must be by way of telex transfer to my account in Gibraltar. Work on a painting or a sculpture commissioned cannot commence until the first payment is received. A sculpture cannot be dispatched to yourself until the second payment is received.

For account details, please ask via email or telephone.

d) What about the costs of transportation, insurance and packaging? Top

The costs of transportation ,insurance and packaging must be paid by the client to the transport company upon receipt of the product. I will include an estimate of these costs in my quotation. However I cannot be bound by transport costs quoted since these prices vary. In my experience transportation, insurance and packaging costs, even for a large sculpture, are an insignificant proportion of the final bill.

e) What if the work is not to my satisfaction? Top

One must understand that as an artist I have my own subjective interpretative style which comes out in all works undertaken and which is what gives it its particular flavor and appeal. It is not possible to put an objective standard on most artistic work and within this context the workwill be done to the best of my artistic ability. I do not do photographic portraits since I feel that exactitude is not truth.

You will receive an e-mail with a photograph of the finished product. If the work is not to your satisfaction and you require further alterations I retain an artistic discretion to consent or refuse to carry out further alterations in line with your requests although as far as possible I will do everything in my power to meet your wishes. In the unlikely event that you are still not satisfied with the final product I will retain ~he monies paid to date and will assume ownership over the sculpture or painting commissioned in recompense for the time spent on the work. In lum you will be released of any responsibility to make further payments or take delivery of the final product. I will retain the final product for a period of 30 days during which time it will be open to you to purchase the product at the original contract price.

f) Can I view the progress of the work through a photo sent to me by e-mail? Top

Anything can be agreed prior to you commissioning me to do the work. However to view work in progress might be misleading since the work in progress will not give a good indication of what the finai product will look like. If as an artist I felt there was need for further consultation or re-direction I would take the initiative of contacting you myself.

Part of the joy of receiving a sculpture is the thrill and excitement of seeing the work in its completed form.

g) Can your terms and conditions be varied? Top

Anything can be agreed prior to you commissioning me to do the work. But the point of having agreed terms and conditions is to have an established procedure so that the parties understand their respective positions without a need to get involved in detailed correspondence, since detailed correspondence may prevent the artist concentrating on the work in question.

h) Will you sign a legal contract? Top

If you wish we can sign a standard legal contract.

i) How soon can you commence the job? Top

This depends on the level of work. In the initial quotation I will give you the estimated amount of time that it will take to do the work commissioned and when I can commence.

In any event I will not commence any work until I have received the initial payment.

j) Is there any limit to size, weight or materials used on a sculpture and would you be prepared to carry out a sculpture or painting on location? Top

There is no limit to size, weight or materials used and I am prepared to carry out a sculpture or painting on location. I must independently assess every assignment as they may be outside of my sphere of competence. I have no hesitation working in a foreign location but as with everything this is subject to prior negotiation and assessment.

k) How can I get a real view of the pictures or sculptures that you are advertising on this site? Top

One possibility is for the picture to be sent to a lawyer in your jurisdiction for you to view in his presence. The costs of sending the picture back and forth would be met by yourself.

If the painting is to your satisfaction payment could be channeled through the lawyer. I am open to suggestions on this matter.

l) Do you have an agent? Top

No. I am currently selling directly and not through agents although I am in the process of engaging the services of an agent. As such prices are currently very favorable.

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