Case overview
A handcrafted portfolio website designed to showcase personalised artwork and generate enquiries for bespoke commissions.
The Brief
Jane needed a simple, elegant website to showcase her hand-drawn property portraits and attract new commission enquiries.
Her work is highly personal — creating bespoke pencil and watercolour illustrations of homes, venues, and buildings — often purchased as meaningful gifts or keepsakes.
The goal was to create a site that:
Clearly presents her artwork
Communicates the emotional value of the product
Makes it easy for customers to get in touch
Our Approach
Our approach was to let the artwork lead.
Rather than over-designing the site, we focused on creating a clean, minimal structure that allows Jane’s illustrations to take centre stage. The site is built around clearly defined artwork categories — including house portraits, wedding venues, shop fronts and landscapes — making it easy for visitors to explore the range of work.
We also simplified the messaging. The core offer — personalised, hand-drawn property portraits — is communicated immediately, without unnecessary complexity. This ensures visitors quickly understand what’s being offered and why it’s special.
Tone of voice was kept warm and accessible. The site avoids overly formal or “art-world” language, instead reflecting the personal nature of the service — something thoughtful, meaningful, and made to last.
We paid particular attention to the enquiry journey. Because commissions are a considered purchase, the goal wasn’t aggressive conversion, but gentle encouragement. Clear contact options and simple navigation make it easy for users to take the next step when they’re ready.
The Design
The design is intentionally simple and understated.
A clean layout, soft structure, and strong use of imagery ensure the artwork remains the focal point throughout the site. This allows visitors to focus on the detail and style of each piece without distraction.
Navigation is straightforward and predictable, helping users move easily between artwork categories and key pages such as “How it Works” and “Contact”.
The result is a calm, gallery-like experience that reflects the handcrafted nature of the work.
The Results
The finished website provides a clear and accessible platform for showcasing Jane’s work and generating new commissions.
By focusing on simplicity, strong visuals, and clear messaging, the site successfully communicates both the quality of the artwork and the emotional value behind it.
It allows potential customers to:
Explore different types of artwork
Understand the service quickly
Make contact with confidence
I started a new business so needed a website to promote my artwork. Richard, at Buxton Website Design came highly recommended. Richard took all my ideas and developed them to create my site. The end result worked well and captured everything I’d asked for and more. Richard worked well with me and is very helpful and supportive. He has also supported me post website building. I highly recommend Richard as he is honest, hardworking and trustworthy.
