GOLD & SILVER LEAF ARTWORK BY ANDREW MORTIMER
I incorporate traditional gilding techniques into paintings and mixed-media artworks, creating luminous, reflective surfaces that change with light and movement.
My work has taken two paths, figurative paintings and drawings often incorporating gold or silver leaf; and mixed media gold leaf artworks, blending photography and painting through the layering of pigment inks, paints, glazes, and textured substrates. Editions are very limited, the gilding and painting process ensuring every piece is uniquely individual and unrepeatable.
Oil Paintings, Acrylics & Charcoal
Figurative paintings and drawings, often incorporating gold and silver leaf; either as a backdrop or to embellish a subject.
Commission a portrait
Commission a portrait that’s as unique as the subject, one that reflects and celebrates their personality.
Commission a painting of any subject or size; symbolic objects, elements or text (names, dates, quotes etc.) can be incorporated.
Anything is possible, get in touch for information or advice.
How to commission a painting or drawing
You can commission any subject, any size, and the process is simple.
Make initial contact via email or the contact page. If you have reference images in mind I can assess them for suitability, often they can be enhanced to be more workable; feel free to send images, I’ll let you know what is possible and give you some options.
Gold or silver leaf is optional, but when used to highlight details, text, or as a backdrop, it adds warmth, depth and elevates the artwork.
Mixed media Gold Leaf Artwork
My mixed-media collections celebrate nature, through the reflective qualities of gold leaf; introducing warmth and interaction. Size and colour options - each uniquely individual piece is signed and numbered
Bespoke Gold Leaf Art Commissions
I offer bespoke gold leaf commissions for private collectors, interior designers, and commercial spaces. Commissioned works can be tailored to the scale or colour palette of your choice, or to suit specific interiors or curatorial requirements.
Commission enquiries are welcomed for:
Oil or acrylic portraits on gold leaf or with gold or silver leaf background/detailing
Large-scale abstract gold leaf artworks
Custom photographic portrait montages on gilded panels or with gold leaf detailing
Site-specific gold leaf artworks for architectural settings
To commission a bespoke gold leaf artwork, please contact me to discuss your requirements, timelines, and budget.
The Process of Creating Gold Leaf Artwork
Gold leaf is applied using traditional gilding techniques, carefully laid onto prepared surfaces and sealed with protective layers. I combine this with traditional painting processes or layered pigment inks, acrylic, and glazes to create depth and subtle shifts in reflection that amplify the connection between imagery and environment.
Each piece undergoes multiple stages of preparation, gilding, painting, and finishing, ensuring finish and durability.
Commission Art - FAQs
Why commission artwork?
Commissioning a painting allows you to acquire bespoke, one-of-a-kind artwork specifically tailored to suit your taste. It creates a deeply personal connection with a piece that commemorates special memories and relationships.
Key reasons people commission a painting include:
Personalisation: You choose the subject, size, palette, and style to exactly match your space and vision.
Emotional Connection: Commissioned pieces often capture personal memories, such as family portraits, beloved animals, places or possessions.
Unique Ownership: You own a one-of-a-kind, original piece of art that no one else has.
The Creative Journey: You get to collaborate with the artist, gaining insight into the creative process and building a relationship with the creator.
Supporting Artists: Commissioning directly supports artists, helping them sustain their business and creative practice.
The process
The typical process starts with initial contact and a brief discussion around your requirements; followed by the provision of reference photos, or where geography/budget allow a meeting to gain reference images. It’s often possible to enhance and clarify images enough to work from, feel free to email images so I can assess then for suitability.
After discussing your vision and preferences a rough mock-up would be produced to give an idea of final composition and some costed options if required. Once the finished layout, budget and timeline are agreed work can commence and an initial payment of 50% would be requested.
On completion of the finished artwork contact is made and likely delivery agreed, taking drying time into account for oils; at this point final payment would be requested.
Commission mixed-media gold leaf artwork
I also create mixed-media artwork using printed elements as well as painting; this process can be tailored around your own images, presented or edited in any way you prefer. Using various layers I have perfected a method of doing this on gilded wood or aluminium
Commission gold leaf artwork
Due to it’s symbolic as well as physical properties, I believe any subject can be elevated by incorporating gold leaf; whether painting onto a gilded panel or employed to emphasise subtle details or patterns, it adds a luxurious luminosity that paint cannot replicate.
Commission gold leaf art to make a uniquely personal and meaningful statement, you can commission any subject, any size, simply contact me to get the conversation started, or find more details about the commissioning process below.
Gold Leaf Art - FAQs
What is Gold Leaf?
Gold is one of the softest and heaviest metals, it is also highly resistant to corrosion from air, heat, moisture and most solvents. Gold leaf is real gold that has been hammered into extremely thin, delicate sheets, usually less than 0.1 microns thick; primarily for gilding - the decorative technique of applying gold to surfaces like wood, metal, or glass.
The history of gold leaf art
The art of using gold leaf dates back to 2600 BC in ancient Egypt, since then gold has symbolised spiritual enlightenment, longevity, power and wealth, often representing divine light in religious works. From Byzantine icons and Gustav Klimt’s modernism, this enduring material connects the spiritual, emotional, and material worlds through its radiant, reflective, and incorruptible nature.
Why do I use gold leaf?
For over 10 years I have increasingly incorporated gold leaf in my artwork as I believe it adds a unique, radiant quality to a surface. Reflected ambient light gives an atmospheric warmth that somehow solidifies its connection to its environment; particularly at certain times of day or under candlelight, figures which are detailed during the day can become near silhouettes at night, adding a new dimension.
Gold leaf or imitation leaf?
Whether I use real or imitation gold leaf depends on the surface and medium I’m using; if sealed correctly imitation gold leaf has similar longevity, with little difference to the end result. Due to the layering of elements, with mixed-media work I tend to employ imitation gold as it’s slightly more robust, and slightly more reflective. As a surface for painting I use genuine gold leaf as together they offer softer, richer tones.
Commission gold leaf artwork
Due to it’s symbolic as well as physical properties, I believe any subject can be elevated by incorporating gold leaf; whether painting onto a gilded panel or employed to emphasise subtle details or patterns, it adds a luxurious luminosity that paint cannot replicate.
Commission gold leaf art to make a uniquely personal and meaningful statement, you can commission any subject, any size, simply contact me to get the conversation started, or find more details about the commissioning process below.