Handcrafted Digital Portraits
I was always curious about learning and found myself gravitating toward creative life. I have often remained quiet about the hardships I faced, the things I accomplished and the skills I have honed.
Now I have over 35 years of Fine-Art, making, drawing and teaching experience. I worked for 20 years as a lecturer across the Scottish art school system and as a freelance education specialist and consultant for 12 years.
I have experience of exhibiting art, film, photography and I have toured as a musician at an international level. Today I work on the Digital Commissions I receive through this site and I continue to make music professionally as thegreyman.net (album due for release 2026)
I owe my own skills and abilities to my own teachers and inspirations and the many years of practice and experimentation I have afforded across many media, styles and disciplines.
Behind the Scenes
How it started
The Technical side of Digital Portraits
I've been using drawing apps since I got a touchscreen phone in around 2014? Then I used my finger to draw quick sketches on the bus or at home. (the Commute series) The sketch below represents one of my first portraits of my son as a wee lad. It is a quick drawing of around 3/4 mins done as he ate his lunch.
I realised early on that there was plenty of expression and nuance possible in the digital drawing apps. Size, weight, width, direction of line, and tonal depth all being controllable with the pressure on the pen. (As is the case with pencil or charcoal etc). This was groundbreaking because it was immediate, portable and not bad resolution. As iPads and apple pencils appeared so did better apps and higher resolution outputs.
Today I still work on affordable, free apps and use a 2019 iPad Pro which has a nasty crack in the screen!! (wait for update). I essence I do not want to make what I do too complex or lose the drawing process in unnecessary tools etc. I generally use only 3/4 brushes varying size and colour as I go. > see here for a stop frame of work in progress.
Our Process
click below for commission guidelines.
Select and Upload Image
The first step is to select something you would like to turn into a hand made artwork. This can be any type of photo or picture with a clear visible image. The image will need to be a digital image (jpeg/png/tiff file format) In the case where you only have a printed version we can guide you on photographing or scanning your precious image. Postal options available on request.
Don't worry about scratches or annoying details as these can be altered or edited out to suit your desires.
See our commission guidelines with more advice for selection, preparing and uploading your images.
All images shared with AK-ArtStudios are strictly confidential and are not stored or shared following the completion of the artwork.
Detail
Next, layers of color and shading bring depth and personality. Each portrait is carefully hand-drawn using digital tools, after considering composition, detail, elements and nuance to capture the unique essence of a subject, person our place.
We focus on creating portraits that are not only beautiful but also easy to share digitally and can be printed on location for framing anywhere in the world- Postage Free!
This is a very special and one-off gift for a loved one, friends or associate and is a way to adjust any important, special images while creating a certified artwork.
In some cases added details or compositional changes need to be approved or altered slightly We provide a 'final review' step of the work in progress. You will receive an un finished version showing layout and some key elements for your approval.
Following this stage the artwork will be completed and delivered to you
All works are digitally transferred (emailed) to your inbox ready for sharing at your disgression with your friends family or colleagues.
Finish
DigitalPortraiture
Contact
Newsletter
info@email.com
123-123-1234
© 2026 All rights reserved.
