10 Incredible Live Wedding Painters for Your Wedding
If you're looking for unique wedding entertainment then consider a live wedding painter. We spoke to some of the best in the industry to find out more
When you're considering options for your wedding entertainment, there might be a few traditional ideas that pop into your head straight away: a DJ, a magician, or a live band. But for couples who are after something a bit different we always recommend a live wedding painter!
If your top priority for your special day is to make memories that will last a lifetime, then a wedding artist is a great option. From detailed portraits to whimsical sketches, live weddng illlustrators can be the perfect addition to your special day.
"When I got married 10 years ago, we were still handing out sugar-coated almonds! Things have come a long way since then, and I love it," explains wedding illustrator, Daria.
"Having a live illustrator at your wedding is both a personalised gift and a live experience - guests can actually watch the illustrations come to life, which adds an element of surprise and joy. These custom portraits often get framed and cherished forever, which makes them extra meaningful."
- What is a live wedding painter?
- How much do wedding painters cost?
- What are the benefits of having a live wedding painter at your wedding?
- What types of weddings are best for live wedding painters?
If you're interested in learning more about live wedding painters, here's you ultimate guide to what they do, how much they cost, and how to find the right one for you...
10 Wedding Illustrators You Can Hire Now
Add some magic to your wedding and get some incredible keepsakes by hiring a wedding illustrator or live painter. If you're looking for a live wedding illustrator in the UK then you'll this is our round-up of the best to bring creative flair to your big day...
1. Ever After Illustrations - Essex
Artist Claire Harding can elevate your wedding experience with beautiful, hand-drawn illustrations. She creates watercolour portraits live as you and your guests look on, resulting in bespoke keepsakes everyone will cherish forever.
She operates by snapping photos of your guests, so no one has to stand and pose - they can opt in, then go off and mingle whilst she works her magic.
- Hitched couples say: "I was blown away by Claire's beautiful drawings. She is both personable and subtle, so your guests will love chatting with her and watching her work and they will be blown away by her portraits."
- Pricing: from £950
2. Kirstybowks Bespokes Live Drawings - Essex
Hitched Wedding Award winner Kirsty is an illustrator who creates real-time entertainment at your wedding that results in last-a-lifetime keepsakes.
She'll sketch live during the celebrations, offering a range of packages that span from two and a half hours to eight hours of coverage. Think you recognise her playful designs? You might - the legendary Gemma Collins named her as one of her top wedding picks from Hitched!
- Hitched couples say: "I cannot recommend Kirsty enough! She truly added something unique to our wedding and our guests were amazed at her talent."
- Pricing: from £399
3. Stacey Greenshield - Oxfordshire
Stacey Greenshield creates whimsical, adorable watercolour pictures of you and your guests, as you mingle during your cocktail hour. She can attend your day from the ceremony through to the evening, painting from photos she snaps, so everyone can collect an illustration at the end of the evening.
She can also create personalised wedding favours, guaranteed to be treasured by all your guests.
- Hitched couples say: "Stacey was an absolute dream to have at our wedding! Her illustrations of our guests were not only incredibly beautiful, but also such a sweet and personal way to capture the day."
- Pricing: from £500
- Deals: Hitched users can benefit from an exclusive 5% discount.
4. The House of Live Illustration - Kent
Megan, the artist behind the House of Live Illustration, creates striking pieces of artwork designed to commemorate incredible moments at your wedding.
Her style will delight and entertain your guests on the day, and result in amazing illustrations you'll adore for the rest of your lives. She works by drawing up to four original drawings per hour, before adding splashes of vibrant watercolours at her studio.
- Hitched couples say: "I don't know what to say about Megan apart from thank you I can't wait to see them, she was discrete, polite and professional, truly a lovely lady and if you want a different sort of memento of your day."
- Pricing: from £895
5. Illustration by Kiwi - Oxford
Oxford wedding planning couples - this one's for you! Illustration by Kiwi offers beautiful watercolour paintings for you and your guests - you can even get an illustrated table plan or invites to match.
They offer a range of packages for your special day so get in touch with the vendor directly to find one that suits you.
- Hitched couples say: "We loved having Frankie and her partner with us on our big day - all our guests were so excited to have their portraits done and were in awe of the live painting."
- Pricing: from £400
- Deals: Hitched couples can enjoy an exclusive 3% discount!
6. Jenny Mathew Art - Bedfordshire
Jenny Mathew Art can create a variety of paintings on your wedding day - whether that's illustrations of you and your guests, a landscape of your venue or a vibrant recreation of your bouquet.
Her services include things such as wedding ceremony painting on canvas, watercolours of guests or a canvas of your wedding flowers so you can choose the artwork option that resonates with you the most.
- Hitched couples say: "We were really happy with Jenny’s art, our wedding guests all spoke about how unique it was, as none of them had seen anything like Jenny’s work at a wedding before."
- Pricing: from £700
- Deals: Hitched couples can enjoy 10% off!
7. Scribble & Sparkle - Essex
If you want to incorporate a touch of glamour into your wedding guest illustrations then this is the live event painter for you. Trudi, from Scribble and Sparkle, uses glitter as a finishing touch to really make her illustrations pop.
With 10 five star reviews we recommend booking soon to get your date locked in!
- Hitched couples say: "Trudi was absolutely amazing, she made such a unique addition to our day and went down a storm with our guests! Can’t recommend her enough!"
- Pricing: from £500
8. Daria World Live Illustration - Cheshire
Based in Cheshire, Daria World Live Illustration specialises in live drawings that reflect your special day, from intricate sketches to quick, stylish drawings.
Whether you want a welcome drinks ice-breaker, or evening entertainment, she'll be on hand to dazzle your guests and chat to them as she sketches away.
- Hitched couples say: "Daria illustrated on our wedding day and did an amazing job. She is so friendly and talented, all our guests LOVED their illustrations and it was such a hit."
- Pricing: from £1,000
9. Make Your Mark Events - Surrey
If you're looking for something more interactive then check out Make Your Mark Events.
Contemporary painter Emma Read and her team will create a bespoke canvas that your friends and family can all contribute towards painting on the big day. It makes a wonderful gift which the couple can keep for years to come.
- Hitched couples say: "Emma is incredible. Our guests absolutely loved painting our canvas and we have the most wonderful keepsake. Communication was perfect and she couldn't have done more for us."
- Pricing: from £850
10. Cayley Cochrane Illustration
Based in London but with the ability to travel Cayley Cochrane Illustrations is perfect for nearlyweds that want luxurious illustrations of their guests.
If you have more guests than time she also offers a service where she can take photos of your guests to finish at home so she's perfect for large weddings!
- Hitched couples say: "We cannot recommend Cayley enough as a wedding illustrator. She is so talented and completed our wedding day."
- Pricing: from £800
Live Wedding Painter FAQs
Here we answer some of your most asked questions with help from expert live wedding painter Emma, owner of Make Your Mark Events.
How does live wedding painting work?
The real magic behind hiring a live wedding painter is that each creation is completely unique. If you are searching for wedding favours or forms of entertainment that are unique and exciting, then you're guaranteed a totally bespoke experience when you hire a live artist.
Sometimes, a live wedding painter will make a work station for themselves at your wedding reception and welcome guests to come and sit for a portrait or they might take a quick photo to work from. Once it's complete, the guests will be able to take it home as a sentimental souvenir of the special day.
In other instances, however, it can be a more collaborative experience. Some wedding painters will work closely with the couple before the wedding to design the bare bones of one large piece of art. It might be the exterior view of their wedding venue, or a drawing of the couple saying their vows, for instance.
Once the design is finished, the artist will create a work station during the reception and welcome each guest to come and make a contribution to the painting. Guests can pick up a paintbrush and, with the guidance of the artist, help to paint the artwork until it's finished.
This is a particularly special way to hire a live wedding painter, and the couple can take the piece of art home and hang it on their wall. Each time they look at it, they'll know that every single person at their wedding helped to bring it to life.
Do live wedding painters paint during the ceremony or the reception?
It's really up to you and what part of the wedding you want to capture. During your consultation with your chosen painter make sure to discuss timings so you are both on the same page when it comes to what you want to create.
What is a live wedding planner?
A live wedding painter can take many different forms. Sometimes, it's a person who paints real-time pictures of your wedding throughout the day. Other times, a live wedding painter can be somebody who helps to create the bare bones of a design with a couple before inviting guests to fill it in throughout the special day.
For weddings, a live wedding painter will create a bespoke, meaningful keepsake that guests and couples can keep for a lifetime. No painting will be the same as the next, so each one will be completely original and unique.
How much do live wedding planners cost?
The price of live wedding painters will vary depending on the length of time you want them for and the amount of art you expect them to produce. There are many other factors that can change the cost of a wedding painter too like the area that you're in - for example, a live wedding painter in London will likely cost more than any other part of the UK.
Emma explains: "Make Your Mark Events offers three different packages. These range from a more DIY entertainment package that costs approximately £700, all the way to a fully framed, edited package with a photobook that would cost roughly £1400.
Naturally, these prices can also change depending on the market, time of year, the artist's experience, and travel costs.
Is a live wedding painter worth it?
Emma says: "Live Wedding Painting services from Make Your Mark Events are somewhat unique in the fact that not only do you get a bespoke piece of art, but you also receive a painting that has been contributed to by all of your loved ones.
"Everyone - from every generation - is invited to leave their creative mark on a memento that you'll treasure forever. I'm a professional artist, and together we design a painting that's totally you.
"I then use my unique style to get that picture onto a canvas and collaborate with your guests on the piece. It's a fabulous way to spark conversation, banter, get people involved and leave you with a gorgeous custom Your Guest Canvas artwork."
What types of weddings are best for live wedding painters?
"I've had the pleasure of working at so many different types of weddings - so I can't say what's best.
"What I do know is that family and friends who come together to celebrate the union and love of a couple absolutely relish the idea that they get to help create something so meaningful. So weddings full of love, big or small, field or luxury house all have a place with a Your Guest Canvas."
Still undecided on your wedding entertainment? Check out these unique ways to keep your guests entertained!
