1. Initial Meeting
In an ideal scenario, the best way to start the commissioning process is to have an initial face to face meeting at my workshop, normally following a brief email exchange or phone call to ensure that we think we can work together. Due to distances and budget, this is not always possible, but meeting in person can ultimately save time and help us to communicate clearly about your requirements. I will show you my portfolio, work in progress (which is often what clients find most interesting) and stone samples. If you are unable to visit the workshop in person due to distances or travel restrictions there are some virtual stone samples here.
By the end of this meeting we may or may not have agreed on the wording and content of the commission, or a preferred material, but we should have a better idea of the way forward. You may wish to go away and contemplate, to cement your ideas before giving me a rough outline of what you want. We may discuss approximate costs. At the end of this meeting you may decide to ask me to make an initial design and estimate.
Begin by filling in a Memorials Enquiry form
2. Design & Estimate
If you wish to proceed, I will make an initial design based on what we have discussed and provide an estimate, my fee for this is £250+VAT=£300.
If you are happy with the design and cost we move on to making a final proposal and commission agreement. If the cost is more than you can afford but you like the design, you can pay me a further £100+VAT for the copyright and I will be happy for you to take the design elsewhere. I can also offer a sandblasted option if you have a limited budget. This means the design is exactly the same and there may be hand carved elements, such as a relief carved roundel for example, but the lettering will be deeply sandblasted as opposed to hand carved.
Cost Factors
- material type and size
- the shape of the stone
- the amount of lettering and other carving
- installation costs
- cemetery/churchyard fees
As a very rough guide, very simple hand carved memorials normally cost between £3-4000, most stones will cost between £4-7000, and obviously more elaborate designs or stones with a lot of lettering and carving could cost considerably more. I can give you an accurate price when we have a final proposal.
3. Proposals & Paperwork
I will submit the design proposals, paperwork and scale drawings for permission and approval to any relevant authorities if necessary – for example vicars/registrars for a memorial, architects and local authorities for work in the public realm.
Once we have permission to proceed then I will draw up a Commission Agreement for us both to sign which clarifies the agreed design proposal and cost. At this stage I will ask for a deposit payment of 50% of the total cost. I will order stone upon receiving the deposit.
The date of signing this agreement and my workload will determine when the work will commence, a normal timescale is around 8 months from signing the agreement to installing the finished stone. Often smaller commissions take less time and can be fitted in if there is a tight deadline such as an anniversary or unveiling ceremony for example. I will always try to accommodate a reasonable timescale. A good craftsman is a busy craftsman and the important thing for me is not to rush things but get it right for my clients. This takes time, and I am a perfectionist!
4. Progress
I like to update my clients with pictures of work in progress and updates via email or Whatsapp. There’s no charge for this. I find that this is a good way to give people as clear a picture as possible of how the stone will look, and this also serves as an important preparation for clients to prepare themselves emotionally for what is a momentous and powerful stage for them in the grieving process.
I will make every attempt to ensure work is completed within the agreed timescale.
5. Installation
I will install the work myself. It is an opportunity for us to meet again, for me to see the work in place, and a nice chance for me to get out of the workshop too. When the stone is finished, I will send an invoice for the final payment, and once this is received we can get a date in the diary for the installation.
I am a registered NAMM memorial fixer for installing memorial work in cemeteries and churchyards. In churchyards, I often install stones in the traditional way as in this picture. This is called a ‘monolith fixing’ and employs a pre-cast concrete saddle hidden below the level of the grass. Often in cemeteries it is necessary to install on an additional stone plinth as there can be concrete foundations in situ, and the plinth is fitted onto this. This is often referred to as a ‘lawn section’ fixing, using a ‘ground anchor’.
Begin by filling in a Memorials Enquiry form
Frequently Asked Questions
How long have you been doing this?
I’ve been carving stone since 1993, working as a stone carver and letter-cutter since 1995, and I set up my own workshop in 2000. Find out more
How long does the whole commissioning process take?
My normal timescale is anywhere from 12 weeks to a year depending on my current workload. If you have a significant deadline I will always try and work to it where possible. Most commissions are completed well within a year.
How much does a headstone cost?
A simple stone may cost as little as £2000. The more elaborate the stone the more it will cost. Some materials cost more than others too. I can give you a preliminary cost after our initial meeting, or perhaps if you need just to get an idea before arranging a meeting due to distances you can email me an outline of what you want and I can try and give you a guide price. Simple memorials normally cost somewhere between £2000-£4000 as a rough guide. More elaborate stones with a lot of intricate carving could take weeks to make and will cost substantially more.
Do you make polished granite memorials?
Polished granite is not a material many fine carvers enjoy working with, and I much prefer working with limestone, sandstone or slate. If you’re worried about weathering then any of these stones will last hundreds of years and softer limestones like Portland stone or Cotswold stone will be fine. The approach when using softer stones should be to carve the lettering very deeply and not too small so that it will last and have enough shadow in the incision to be legible. I have also used granite from time to time, and this generally involves sandblasting the lettering, but this can look really effective if designed well.
Do you install your artworks yourself?
I always deliver and install the work myself, mainly for two reasons; to ensure it is correctly sited and not damaged in transit, and to be able to see where it has ended up and photograph the finished piece. It is nice for me to feel involved throughout the whole process.
Why does it sometimes take up to a year to commission work from you?
Most good craftspeople making quality work will tell you they’re busy. There is still a demand for top quality, thoughtfully designed and hand-made products. To make work by hand to the best of your ability takes time.
Aren’t there machines that can cut lettering in stone?
There are machines that cut stone by laser, router and by sandblasting, but the result is not the same as a hand-cut letter. For me these are different approaches that should not be compared as like for like. Many modern memorials are made to set patterns, are sandblasted or routed, and the overall design tends to be a more limited uncreative process, more industrial and less personal. This is not wrong but just different. The machinist is doing his job, I am doing mine. I enjoy the opportunity to design and draw freehand and to make an inscription work within a design, rather than make a design limited by manufacturing processes.
This is not to say a that memorial cannot in theory be well designed and then made by machine.
What happens if you get near the end of a job and a lump falls off?
It doesn’t really happen, you tend to know if you’ve got a bad piece of stone before you start carving it.
If you hit a stone hard with a heavy hammer it should ring like a bell – if not don’t use it.
Is Teucer your real name and if so where does it come from?
I’m afraid it is my real name! Teucer was a character in Greek mythology mentioned in the Iliad.
Do you ever make a spelling mistake?
Don’t be daft, I have never made a smelling mistake.
