Commissioning a stained glass window
I get many inquiries about how to commission a stained glass window. If this is something you are considering I hope you will find the following information useful.
The first step is an initial consultation usually via email or telephone to discuss your requirements. If you are local we can arrange a site visit, if not, we can work with photographs of the location of your proposed project. This will enable me to give you a rough idea of the costs involved.
Costs can vary tremendously depending on the complexity of the design and also the materials used and it may not always be possible to establish a final price until the design is completed and approved.
If you decide to proceed I would first do a rough pencil sketch of what I envisage for the space based on our initial discussions.
Once the concept sketch is approved this is followed by a full colour sketch usually at a 1:10 scale. I do not use computer generated images for my designs. All my artwork is done by hand.
After approval of the artwork the next step is to produce the cartoon which is a full-size working drawing.
At this stage you will be invited to visit the studio to approve the cartoon and look at a selection of glass. If yours is a very large project you will also be invited to view the window as the work progresses. This can of course be done via video and photographs if necessary.
Stained glass is a very labour intensive process using techniques that have changed very little since medieval times. The cost of a window is affected by many factors, size, complexity of design, materials used, how much painting and etching is involved and installation costs. As the artist I will require a separate design fee, a deposit will then be required for materials with interim payments as the work progresses with the final payment due upon installation.
As a general guide, prices start at around £225 per square foot upwards to £1,000 with a minimum cost of £500.
Please contact me if you would like to discuss a commission.