1. About These Terms
These Terms & Conditions apply to all custom illustration commissions ("Commission") ordered through this website from Alicia Berton Illustrations ("we", "us", "our"), a sole trader based in the United Kingdom. By submitting an enquiry and confirming a Commission, you ("you", "the Client") agree to these Terms.
2. Enquiries and How a Contract Is Formed
Submitting the contact form is not a binding order — it starts a conversation about your project.
Once we've agreed on the details (size, style, format, price) by email, we will send you a quote and payment request for the deposit.
The contract between us is formed when we receive your deposit payment, not before.
We reserve the right to decline any commission — for example, if we don't feel it's the right creative fit, if the subject matter conflicts with our values, or if we don't feel we'd work well together — without needing to give a detailed reason, provided work has not yet started. If we decline before you've paid a deposit, no further action is needed. If you've already paid and we need to decline or step back from a project before starting, you'll receive a full refund within 7 working days.
3. Pricing and Payment
Prices are as listed on the pricing page/quote at the time of order, in GBP (£).
The price confirmed in your quote is the price that applies to your Commission, even if our general pricing changes afterwards.
A 50% deposit is required to initiate the commission process, before work begins. This deposit is non-refundable — it secures your place in my schedule and covers the initial stages of the artwork.
The remaining 50% balance is due upon completion of the project. Once the final piece is complete, the full payment becomes non-refundable, which helps keep the process running smoothly and on schedule for both parties.
Every Commission includes multiple stages along the way where adjustments can be made to ensure the piece meets your expectations (see Section 4, Revisions).
4. Revisions
Your Commission price includes up to 4 rounds of revisions throughout the creative process. Revisions cover adjustments (e.g. colour, composition changes) — not a full redesign or change of subject.
Additional revision rounds beyond the 4 included, or requests for a substantially different design, may incur an extra fee, which we'll confirm with you before proceeding.
By commissioning a piece, you confirm that you've reviewed our portfolio and are happy with our artistic style, and you accept that the finished illustration is a personal artistic interpretation that may differ from your own mental image in terms of realism or precision — this is part of what you're commissioning.
5. Turnaround Time
Estimated turnaround is typically 3–5 weeks from receipt of your deposit to completion of the final illustration, excluding shipping time.
This is an estimate, not a guarantee — busier periods, complex commissions, or delays in your responses (e.g. approving sketches, providing reference photos) may extend this.
If you go quiet for more than a reasonable period during the process, your project's priority may be lowered behind other clients' active commissions. If we haven't heard back from you for 15 working days after a request for feedback or information, we reserve the right to cancel the Commission, and your deposit will not be refunded, as work and time will already have gone into the project.
6. Cancellations & Returns
Because each Commission is made specifically to your personal specification (your chosen house/venue, size, and style), it is legally classed as bespoke/personalised. Under the UK Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, this means the standard 14-day "cooling-off" cancellation right for online purchases does not apply once work has started on your Commission. By paying your deposit, you acknowledge and agree to this.
If you cancel at any stage after paying your deposit: the deposit is non-refundable, as set out in Section 3. If the balance has also been paid and the piece is complete, that payment is non-refundable too.
If we need to cancel or decline your Commission (see Section 2), any payment you've made will be refunded in full within 7 working days.
Once you've received the finished piece: since it's been created just for you, we're not able to offer a return. But if something feels off, please do reach out and we'll always try to find a fair way forward together.
7. Copyright and Usage Rights
We retain full copyright and ownership of the artwork itself, including the original illustration file.
You receive the physical/framed piece and/or any digital file included in your order for your personal, non-commercial use — to display, gift, keep, or print additional personal copies (for example, printing the digital file at home or at a print shop for your own use).
You may not sell, license, modify, or use the illustration commercially, or reproduce it for distribution to others beyond personal/gift use, without written permission.
We may photograph and share images of your finished Commission in our portfolio, website, and social media, unless you tell us in writing before work begins that you'd prefer we don't.
8. Delivery and Shipping
Once your final payment is received, please allow 4-5 working days for the piece to be prepared and dispatched — you'll get an email once it's on its way.
During busier periods (for example the run-up to Christmas), dispatch and delivery may take longer than usual. We'll let you know as early as possible if this is likely to affect your order.
For international orders, you are responsible for any customs duties, import taxes, or fees charged by your country on arrival.
We are not responsible for delays caused by couriers or customs once the item has shipped, though we'll assist where we can if issues arise.
If your piece arrives damaged, please contact us by email within 7 days of delivery with photos of the damage and packaging. We'll work with you to find a fair resolution — this may include a replacement print at our discretion — though this isn't guaranteed in every case.
If you have any questions about shipping, feel free to contact me at aliciabertonillustrations@gmail.com.
9. Your Responsibilities
You are responsible for providing clear, accurate reference photos and information about the house/venue/subject. Delays or inaccuracies in what you provide may affect turnaround time and are not our responsibility.
10. Severability
If any part of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the rest of these Terms will remain in full effect.
11. Changes to These Terms
These Terms may be updated from time to time; the version in effect at the time you pay your deposit is the one that applies to your Commission. Updated versions will be posted on this page.