For April and her partner, Cornwall wasn’t just a wedding destination - it was home to countless shared memories. So when they chose Mawgan Porth Beach for their ceremony, they wanted a keepsake that felt just as personal as the place itself: a wedding painting commission that would bring their day to life on canvas.
The idea behind this wedding painting commission
April first reached out to me on Instagram about a surprise custom wedding painting as a gift to her fiancé of the view they’d wake up to on the morning of their wedding at the Scarlet Hotel.
Her vision was clear:
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rolling waves and bursts of coastal flowers, just like in Wild & Free
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expressive brushstrokes with splashes of energy
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a hint of golden sunset light (but not too much orange - her partner’s not a fan!)
“I felt involved and included throughout the entire process and I couldn’t recommend her more. Rachel made it effortless.” — April, Brighton
Looking for the best gift for your fiancé?
This could be it — a one-of-a-kind artwork made just for them.
Skip to the commission inquiry form ↓
Or discover the process of how to commission a painting →
Gathering inspiration from Mawgan Porth beach
April didn’t have reference photos, so I took a trip to Mawgan Porth myself. Climbing the cliffs, I looked back at the Scarlet Hotel and cottages scattered across the hillside, I found the perfect spot to sketch the beach as the sun began to sink behind the horizon and soak up my first impressions and colours.
It wasn’t sea thrift season, but with a little artistic licence, we made them bloom anyway - that’s where a commissioned painting offers something photos can’t!
Sketching the vision: Bringing memories to life
Not every commission needs sketches, but when you’re blending multiple inspirations, they can be a great way to get on the same page.
With a few quick thumbnails, we explored composition, colour, and focal points - making sure the final piece would feel exactly right for the couple.
This is one of my favourite parts of the art commission process: translating emotions and stories into brushstrokes before the painting even begins.
The big reveal at the Scarlet Hotel
As part of the surprise, April asked me to hand-deliver the finished painting to the Scarlet Hotel. Meeting them in person and seeing their reaction is one of those moments I’ll never forget.
“The piece fits perfectly in our home and every day we’re reminded of that perfect day. I wanted to commission a painting of Mawgan Porth from a local Cornish artist as a wedding gift for my partner — I’ve never in my life done anything like this before, but Rachel made it effortless!”
And that’s the joy of a wedding art commission -it’s a memory you can step back into every single day.
How to commission your own wedding painting
Whether it’s a wedding, an anniversary, or a gift for someone you love, a custom wedding painting is a unique way to mark a milestone.
Here’s how to begin:
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Share your idea with me - no need to have it all figured out.
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We’ll gather inspiration together (photos, places, colours, memories).
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I’ll sketch and paint your story into a lasting artwork.
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You’ll receive a personal, meaningful piece ready to hang in your home.
Every commission I create tells a story - a memory, a feeling, a moment in time. I love helping collectors turn those moments into something tangible that lasts a lifetime.
If you’d like to explore a painting commission of your own, do get in touch by simply filling out the form below and we can start discussing and planning something truly special.
