Scottish Art Print Buying Guide

Every print I sell is made from one of my original paintings of Scotland, and every one arrives signed and titled. The question is which format suits your wall, your budget and the person you are buying for. This guide explains the differences in plain terms.

What is a giclée print?

Giclée (say "zhee-clay") is a high-quality inkjet printing method used for fine art reproductions. My prints use archival, lightfast inks on museum-quality paper or artist-grade cotton canvas. The colours stay true to the original painting and are made to last. They are not posters.

The print formats

Unframed fine art prints

Printed on museum-quality matte paper with a gently textured surface that brings out the subtle tones of the painting. They arrive signed and titled, ready for your own frame or a local framer. They are the most affordable way to own one of my paintings, and the easiest to post abroad. Browse prints, from £17.95.

Framed and mounted prints

The same giclée print, handmade into a frame by specialist picture framers. They have a clean wooden frame with a satin finish and an FSC-certified off-white mount that is 2 inches wide on all sides. They arrive ready to hang, and the size shown is the outside size. Black is the standard finish. White, gold, silver, natural and mahogany are available on request.

Stretched canvas prints

Printed on finely textured artist-grade cotton canvas and hand-finished over stretcher bars milled from kiln-dried knotless pine. The canvas has a white edge about 4cm deep. Canvas has no glass, so there is no glare and it suits bright rooms. It arrives ready to hang. Browse canvas prints, from £49.95.

Floating framed canvas

A 38mm stretched canvas set inside a frame that sits about 5mm from the edge. This creates a "floating" border that looks finished and gallery-like. Frame colours are black, white, natural, dark brown, gold and silver.

Artist proof collector prints

When I check the colour of a new print before signing, I receive proof prints. There is only one artist's proof for each painting. It is signed, titled, dated and marked A/P. These proofs are printed on Hahnemühle German Etching paper (310gsm), which has a velvety, warm white surface. They measure 20 x 16 inches (50 x 40cm) for landscape or portrait, and 20 x 20 inches (50 x 50cm) for square. See artist proofs, from £149.

Panoramic and statement prints

Wide-format prints for long walls, above a sofa or bed, or a hallway. Statement canvases are large enough to anchor a whole room. See panoramic prints.

Scotland In Your Pocket

Small framed prints in two sizes, 5 x 5 inches or 8 x 8 inches outside frame size. They arrive signed and ready to hang or stand on a shelf or desk. They make a good small gift.

Choosing the right size

• Above a sofa, bed or sideboard: aim for the artwork to be about two-thirds the width of the furniture.
• A single wall on its own: larger is usually better than you expect. A print that is too small can look lost.
• Hang height: the centre of the picture at roughly eye level, about 145 to 150cm from the floor.
• Inches to centimetres: multiply inches by 2.54. For example, 16 x 12 inches is about 40 x 30cm.
• Measure with paper: cut or tape out the size on the wall before you order.

Print or original painting?

A print is a beautiful reproduction at a fraction of the cost. An original is the one painting I made by hand, with real brushwork and texture, and nobody else will ever own it. If you would like an original of a particular place or in a particular size, I can paint one for you. See commission an original painting or browse original paintings.

Need a custom size or frame?

Custom sizes and other frame finishes are often possible. Contact me with the painting and the size you have in mind. Delivery is free worldwide, and everything is packed carefully in Scotland.