When a portrait is commissioned and the person is available for sittings, I take a series of photographs in the round, from above and from below. I also take measurements. These are used to construct the portrait and neither for publication or any other purpose. Ideally I prefer to work with my sitters, from life. This involves coming to my studio in North London and sitting alongside the clay portrait in progress. I am also prepared to visit my sitters if this is required and the work is transportable. A minimum of three life sittings is preferable. Two hours for a sitting is ideal. A portrait head or bust can take from three to five months to model, depending on the amount of detail and any other commitments.