Work directly with Canadian artist Graham Watts

Custom Oil Painting Commissions in Vancouver

Turn a meaningful place, memory or wildlife encounter into a one-of-a-kind oil painting designed around your story and your space. Subjects include Vancouver cityscapes, Whistler and Sea-to-Sky landscapes, Canadian wildlife, mountain scenes and personally meaningful locations.

Commission prices start at $1,152 CAD

Start Your Commission Explore Past Commissions

Have a question? Email art@grahamwatts.art to speak directly with Graham.

Woman presenting a custom mountain oil painting by Graham Watts in a Vancouver art gallery.
Custom mountain commission

A one-of-a-kind mountain painting by Graham Watts, presented in a Vancouver gallery.

One-of-a-kind original Created collaboratively with Graham and never reproduced as another original.
Work directly with Graham A complimentary digital wall preview is available when appropriate.
Approve the direction A 50% deposit reserves the project, with the balance due after final approval.
Ready to display Signed, wired, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and prepared for delivery.
Person presenting a framed waterside landscape artwork by Graham Watts.

Custom waterside landscape artwork · Graham Watts

A painting with personal meaning

A painting created around what matters to you

A commissioned painting creates art that connects with a favourite place, an important memory, an animal or a view that has meaning for you.

You do not need to arrive with a complete idea. Graham will help you choose the subject, canvas size, orientation and colour direction. Send a photograph of your wall for a digital preview showing how different canvas sizes may look in your room. The result is an original oil painting created specifically for you in Graham’s recognizable style of expressive colour, layered texture and dramatic warm and cool light.

  • Personal consultation with Graham Watts
  • Canvas-size and room-placement guidance
  • Digital wall preview when appropriate
  • Progress communication from canvas to completion
Discuss Your Painting Idea

What can be commissioned

What can I commission?

Begin with a subject that already has meaning. Graham will help transform it into an original composition for your home.

Top of the World, a commissioned Whistler mountain painting by Graham Watts.
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Top of the World · Whistler, British Columbia

Whistler and Sea-to-Sky paintings

Black Tusk, Whistler or Blackcomb Mountain, a favourite ski run, the Tantalus Range or another meaningful place in the Sea-to-Sky corridor.

Best of Vancouver, a commissioned panoramic Vancouver cityscape painting by Graham Watts.
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Best of Vancouver · Vancouver, British Columbia

Vancouver cityscapes

A rainy-night cityscape, familiar landmark, neighbourhood view, beach, bridge or mountain panorama.

Big Joe, a commissioned Canadian wildlife painting by Graham Watts.
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Big Joe · Canadian wildlife commission

Canadian wildlife paintings

A grizzly bear, wolf, eagle, elk or another animal that holds meaning for you.

Lake Louise, a commissioned Alberta mountain landscape painting by Graham Watts.
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Lake Louise · Alberta, Canada

Canadian mountain landscapes

Transform a personal photograph or memorable Canadian view into an original landscape painting created for your home.

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Personally meaningful places

Commemorate a memorable journey, family destination, anniversary, retirement, new home or another important chapter in your life.

The commission journey

How the commission process works

The process is clear, collaborative and pressure-free from the first conversation through delivery.

  1. 01

    Begin with a conversation

    Tell Graham about the subject, memory or location you would like to capture by telephone, video call or email. There is no obligation to proceed after this conversation.

  2. 02

    Choose the right size

    Send a straight-on wall photograph and measurements. Graham can recommend dimensions and create a complimentary digital mock-up.

  3. 03

    Develop the concept

    Discuss composition, colours, mood and the elements of Graham’s existing work that appeal to you. Approve the proposed direction and written project summary.

  4. 04

    Reserve the project

    A 50% deposit reserves your place in the painting schedule. All prices and payments are in Canadian dollars.

  5. 05

    Follow the painting’s progress

    Most commissions require approximately four weeks to paint. Graham keeps you informed and shares progress images at appropriate stages.

  6. 06

    Approval and drying

    Approve the completed painting, then allow approximately three to four weeks for drying. The work is signed, wired and prepared for display.

  7. 07

    Delivery or shipping

    Arrange Vancouver studio pickup, possible local delivery, or careful professional packaging with tracking and insurance.

Transparent commission pricing

$2 CAD per square inch

Commission pricing begins at approximately $2 CAD per square inch.

The final quotation may reflect the artwork’s size, composition, complexity, framing requirements and delivery destination. Custom dimensions are welcome, and your written quotation confirms the artwork price, applicable taxes, requested framing and delivery or shipping arrangements.

50% deposit to begin The remaining 50% balance is due following completion and final approval.
Canvas size Painting price
24 × 24 in$1,152 CAD
30 × 30 in$1,800 CAD
40 × 30 in$2,400 CAD
36 × 36 in$2,592 CAD
48 × 48 in$4,608 CAD
48 × 60 in$5,760 CAD
60 × 60 in$7,200 CAD

Examples are in Canadian dollars. Custom dimensions are calculated using the same $2-per-square-inch formula.

Every commission

What is included?

  • A one-of-a-kind original oil painting
  • Personal consultation, composition development and progress communication
  • Canvas-size guidance and a digital wall preview when appropriate
  • Artist’s signature, artwork title and details recorded on the reverse
  • Certificate of authenticity, finished canvas edges and hanging wire installed
  • Personal assistance with pickup, delivery or insured shipping

A floating frame can be discussed and quoted separately when desired.

Planning ahead

How long does a commission take?

Most paintings require approximately four weeks to create after the composition is approved.

Because oil paint dries gradually, allow another three to four weeks before final delivery or shipping. Larger or more complex paintings may require additional time. If the commission is intended for a birthday, anniversary, retirement or another important date, mention the deadline during your first conversation.

Artwork and space

A commission designed for your room

The right artwork should feel connected to both the collector and the space in which it will live. Graham can consider:

  • Wall dimensions, room proportions and viewing distance
  • Dominant colours, natural light and furniture placement
  • Preferred mood and visual energy
  • Whether the painting should be a strong focal point or feel quieter and atmospheric
Send Graham a Photograph of Your Wall

About the artist

Graham Watts

A Canadian oil painter based in British Columbia, with a long-standing connection to Vancouver, Whistler and the Sea-to-Sky region.

Graham’s paintings are known for bold colour, textured brushwork and the contrast between warm and cool light. He creates Canadian wildlife, mountain landscapes, Vancouver cityscapes and skiing-inspired artwork for collectors across Canada, the United States and internationally. His goal is not simply to reproduce a photograph, but to capture the atmosphere, emotion and personal significance behind the subject.

Selected commission stories

Ideas transformed into original paintings

These completed works show the range of places, subjects, formats and personal stories that can become a Graham Watts commission.

From a commission collector

“Working with Graham was exceptionally easy and enjoyable. The end results were even better than anticipated.”

Sandy K. · British Columbia

Before you begin

Commission questions, answered

Do I need to know exactly what I want?

No. A place, photograph, memory, subject or general feeling is enough to begin. Graham will help develop the composition and determine the right canvas size.

Can you work from my photographs?

Yes, provided the photographs contain enough useful visual information and you have permission to use them. Multiple reference photographs are often helpful.

Can you recreate a painting that has already sold?

Graham will not create an exact duplicate of another collector’s original, but can develop a new composition inspired by a similar subject, mood or colour palette.

Will I see the concept before painting begins?

Yes. You will agree on the subject, composition, size and overall direction before the painting stage begins.

Can I see how the painting will look in my room?

Yes. Send a straight-on photograph of your wall with its approximate width and height. Graham can prepare a complimentary digital preview when appropriate.

How much does a commissioned painting cost?

Pricing begins at approximately $2 CAD per square inch. A 24 × 24-inch painting starts at $1,152 CAD, while a 40 × 30-inch painting starts at $2,400 CAD. You receive a written quotation before making a deposit.

When is payment required?

A 50% deposit reserves the project. The remaining 50% is due after completion and final approval.

Is the painting ready to hang?

Yes. The finished painting is signed, fitted with hanging wire and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

Do you offer framing?

The gallery-wrapped canvas can normally be displayed without an external frame. If you prefer a floating frame, the style and cost can be discussed during planning.

Do you ship outside Vancouver?

Yes. Insured shipping can be arranged throughout Canada and the United States. International collectors are welcome to request an individual quotation.

Can I collect the painting personally?

Complimentary Vancouver studio pickup is available by appointment. Personal delivery may also be possible in Vancouver, Whistler and along the Sea-to-Sky corridor.

Begin a commission

Begin Your Commission

A commission starts with a simple conversation. Tell Graham what you are imagining, where the painting will hang and why the subject matters to you.

Include your preferred subject or location, approximate canvas size, city and country, desired completion date, available reference photographs, wall measurements, and any colours or existing Graham Watts paintings that inspire you.

Prefer email? art@grahamwatts.art

Your inquiry goes directly to Graham. He will ask for room or reference photographs by email when helpful.