Terms and Conditions (The fine print!)

I hope you’ll be delighted with your commission or purchase, but if all is not as you hope, please get in touch and I’ll do my best to sort things out and make sure you are a happy customer. You can get in touch using the contact form or number on the contact page or emailing directly to michellemcleodartist@gmail.com.

 

Website/Social Media: I reserve the right to use my own photos of works in progress and finished pieces on my website and social media. However, I will never share any customer photos sent as source material (unless permission has been given) and will only ever show finished pieces once they have been handed over to customers. If you would prefer your finished painting or keepsake not be shared on social media, please let me know via email to michellemcleodartist@gmail.com.

 

Additions to your item:

If, after paying the initial deposit, you decide you would like to add to your order (e.g. more people, personalised names), I will do my best to accommodate these changes. However, there may be an additional cost or extended wait time. Any changes to price will be

agreed prior to continuing with the order.

 

Cancellation:

If you decide you wish to cancel a commission/personalised /bespoke order, please get in touch within 14 days of ordering. If the design has not been started, you will be given a full refund of your deposit. If we have started your order (if you have requested a short turnaround time) deposits will not be refunded. Once you have approved your design and paid the balance (or middle payment for portraits) no refund will be given should you wish to cancel as time and materials will already have been used on your commission.

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 In the case of items paid in full at time of order , a non-refundable deposit forms part of the purchase price. However, again, if your item has not been started, you will receive a full refund if you cancel with 14 days. If you decide to cancel an order/change your mind after 14 days , a refund will be sent minus a deposit of 25% unless you have approved the initial design.

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Once you have received an initial design sketch, your deposit is non-refundable, even if you decide that you no longer wish to complete your commission.

 

The “Nitty Gritty” for portraits and wooden figures

Commissioned pieces including bespoke wooden animals  are tailored specifically to your requirements/photographs. These items will have required either a deposit or payment in full when ordered.

All of my work is cartoon in style, with signature style cartoon eyes and in the case of people, signature nose and mouth style. My portraits and wooden figures are not meant to be an accurate, realistic and lifelike portrayal of subjects but instead a stylised version of them. I will however try to include as many personal details as possible.

 

Booking commissions

​When booking a commission, you will be given a slot (usually a particular month) in which your commission will be drawn and painted. These slots are usually the next available space in my commission diary.  Earlier slots MAY be possible. Please ask at time of booking.

Ideally, please send photos as soon as you have booked. This will ensure I can reach your completion date. Your photos must be sent at least two weeks prior to your commission month. If your photos are not sent by this time, a reminder email will be sent. However, after a further 7 days if no photos are sent, your slot will be cancelled and will need to rebooked for the next available slot. Your deposit is no longer refundable at this point.

 

Initial designs

I do all I can to ensure that your commission or bespoke order is exactly as requested. Once a deposit is paid and photos are sent to work from,  an initial sketch in the form of a line drawing is emailed to you  Please look carefully at the designs as once approved, changes are not usually possible, particularly to wooden pieces which will be cut to match the design. Any changes requested after the initial design has been approved may incur additional costs. An invoice for the balance or next stage deposit will be sent to you with your initial design. This balance must be paid within 7 days of approving the design and before any further work can commence on the commission.

 

Please respond to your approval email within 2 weeks. Otherwise, this can cause delays resulting in missing your booking slot (see below). A reminder email/text will be sent, usually after 10 days. After 14 days, your slot will be cancelled and the deposit non-refundable. You will be able to pick up your commission up to 6 months after this date as your initial design will be kept on file, but the next available slot will be given, which could be up to 3 -4 months wait at busy times and you will be asked for full payment before further work commences.

 

Changes to Sketch designs prior to approval

I will always try to make any changes you require to the initial sketches wherever possible, within the parameters of the agreed item and the cartoon style in which I work - for example alter clothes/hairstyles/face or head shapes/animal collars etc. Sometimes I may request additional photos for these changes, particularly if the alteration is not something that could be seen in the original photos sent. 

 

Please be aware that some requested changes to initial designs may not work within the layout/style of the cartoon characters I create. If particular changes are not possible, you will be informed of this at the time. If at that stage you decide not to move forward with your commission, your slot can be cancelled. However as time has been spent creating your design, no refunds will be given for deposits paid. (If you had chosen to pay in full, a refund will be given minus a 25% deposit) 

 

Finished pieces

An approval email will be sent to you with a photograph of your finished piece. Please check this photo carefully - at this point, big changes are not usually possible but minor alterations/additions may be.  By approving the item, you are accepting that the finished piece matches your order/initial sketch. In the case of portraits, an invoice will also be sent for the final balance. This must be paid within 7 days of receipt. Portraits will not be posted unless paid for in full.

 

Please note, I cannot refund either deposits/part or full payments if you miss your original commissionslot due to delays in sending photos or responding to emails/paying balances.

 

Return of Customised/Bespoke Work

If after receipt of your item, you change your mind, please contact me in the first instance to see what can be done. Customised items meeting the specifications that have been approved cannot usually be returned. However, we may be able to offer a solution or part refund depending on the item. The customer in this instance would be responsible for the cost/safe return of the item in the condition it was received in. Please obtain proof of postage. 

 

Items delayed in the post

All items apart from cards are sent with 2nd class signed for postage and I will email you with a Royal Mail tracking number once posted. If you have a particular date that you need an item for, please let me know this when booking and I will, where possible, book you a slot that will mean you items are posted at least two weeks before you need them (This isnt always possible if you have a short deadline, so its always best to book early!).

Unfortunately, delays with post can happen even with the best planning. Most 2nd class signed for parcels arrive within 3 to 4 working days, although please allow up to 7 days. I cannot be held responsible for a delay in postage time once an item is in the hands of Royal Mail. If you have a very short deadline, you can upgrade postage to 1st class signed for or for additional tracking/peace of mind, special delivery. Please ask for prices when booking.

 

Items received damaged/lost in transit. 

Unfortunately, on rare occasions, some items may be damaged during transit. In this instance, please contact us immediately on receiving your item. Please take a photograph of damaged packaging  and the damaged item. In this instance we will either supply a replacement item as soon as possible or we will refund the cost of the item and the original postage.

Please bear in mind that replacements of hand painted items may not be identical to the original, as each piece is individually created and small variations may occur and there may be a delay of several weeks as wee create your new piece.

If an item is lost in transit, a replacement or full refund will be sent. Please allow up to 14 working days before an item is considered lost.

Most items are sent with tracked postage. If the tracked postage shows that the item reached its destination with the recipient, a full refund will not be offered. In addition, if an incorrect postal address was given and the item was delivered, a refund/replacement will not be given.

 

Items purchased from shops/shows.

If there is a fault with an item purchased at a third party shop, please contact the shop itself who will follow their own returns policies. If your item was purchased in person at a show or via my website, please contact me via email, with details on where and when your item was purchased. If the item has developed a fault after purchase, we will do our best to replace the item if it is still available or offer a credit note. Alternatively, we may refund the cost of the item to the original purchaser upon receiving evidence of the fault and proof of purchase. You must contact us within 30 days of purchase. However, we cannot be held responsible for damage that occurs due to mishandling of the item/breakage once the item has been sold.

 

Michelle McLeod, 

michellemcleodartist@gmail.com