Nethie Lockwood / Lockwood Studios

Last reviewed: September 21, 2026. Business status: Active.

Nethie Lockwood / Lockwood Studios is a Vancouver-based live event painting and guest portrait business serving weddings and other events. Couples looking for a Vancouver live wedding painter can request a custom experience in which the artist begins a canvas before or during the event, or creates individual guest portraits as an interactive keepsake.

The official website names Vancouver, Whistler, Kelowna, the Lower Mainland, Seattle and Portland as service areas. It also explains that the finished canvas is completed in the studio after the wedding. This profile was last reviewed on September 21, 2026, using the business's official website evidence supplied for this listing.

Services and specialization

Lockwood Studios offers live wedding and event painting, along with guest portrait illustrations. For a live painting, Nethie Lockwood uses reference photos and may begin the piece before guests arrive. If a couple has a particular moment or scene in mind, the artist can set up in advance, paint the background on site and incorporate the couple into the final composition.

The painting develops during the event, giving guests an opportunity to see different stages of the work, including a covered canvas draft stage. The official process description makes clear that the on-site portion is not necessarily the final completion stage: the canvas is taken back to the studio for additional details, finishing touches and protective varnish.

Guest illustrations are created from quick photos taken during the event. The portraits are displayed as they are completed, and the website states that custom portraits are ready for pickup by the end of the evening. The site also describes the ability to draw couples, families and small groups together in one portrait.

• Live wedding and event painting
• Watercolour-style guest portrait illustrations
• Custom compositions based on reference photos or a chosen scene
• Studio completion and protective varnish for live paintings

Service area and who it may suit

The business is based in Vancouver, BC, and the official website lists Vancouver, Whistler, Kelowna, the Lower Mainland, Seattle and Portland among its service areas. This may suit couples who want an artwork created as part of the wedding experience, rather than a conventional physical favour or a purely photographic record.

Guest portraits may be a fit for receptions where guests can visit the artist during the celebration and collect a finished illustration later in the evening. A live canvas may suit couples who want to choose a meaningful scene and receive a larger artwork after the event. The right format will depend on the venue schedule, guest count, travel requirements and the couple's preferred finished piece.

• Vancouver-based weddings and events
• Selected events in the additional locations named by the business
• Couples interested in a custom artwork or interactive guest keepsake

Confirmed strengths and practical limitations

A documented feature of the service is the choice between a live canvas painting and guest illustrations. The process also allows couples to select the scene for a canvas or discuss options with the artist. For guest portraits, the website provides an approximate working pace of about six minutes per guest, or around 10 guests per hour, while noting that clothing, accessories and conversation can affect timing.

The same information creates practical planning considerations. A canvas is not necessarily finished on the wedding day, because the artist completes it in the studio. The website says this finishing process typically takes about one to two weeks. Guest portrait capacity depends on the event timeline and the number of artists involved; for larger events, the artist says she works with other artists to accommodate the guest count.

The evidence supplied does not include a phone number, postal address, reviews, awards, availability calendar or a complete package menu. Couples should therefore request current details directly rather than infer them from this listing.

• The website documents both live canvas painting and guest portraits.
• Guest portrait timing is approximate and depends on the event and portrait details.
• Live paintings are completed after the event rather than necessarily on site.
• Current availability and full package inclusions are not published in the supplied evidence.

Pricing

The official website states: "Investment: Packages start at $1500 & vary due to time commitment, & guest count." This is the published starting information available in the supplied evidence. Prices are not published as a complete package list, so the final quote may depend on the selected service, event duration and guest count.

The business invites couples to request a quote. Travel may also affect the total: the site says that most local weddings do not require an additional travel fee, while events more than a four-hour drive from Vancouver incur a travel fee to cover extra time and expenses. Couples should ask for the complete price, travel treatment and included deliverables in writing.

• Published starting investment: $1,500
• Packages vary according to time commitment and guest count
• Prices are not published as a complete package menu
• Travel fees may apply for events more than a four-hour drive from Vancouver

Contact and booking

The official website directs couples to get in touch with event details and request a custom quote. If the couple decides to proceed, the stated process is an emailed contract for review and signature. A 50% deposit is required to secure the date, with the remaining balance due the day before the event.

The business website includes a contact page and a check-my-date prompt. No phone number or postal mailing address was supplied in the verified evidence for this profile, so couples should use the official website contact route for current communication details and availability.

• Provide event details when requesting a quote.
• Review and sign the contract before booking.
• A 50% deposit is stated as due to secure the date.
• The remaining balance is stated as due the day before the event.

What couples should confirm

Before booking, couples should confirm which format best fits the reception: a live canvas, guest portraits or a combination. For a canvas, discuss the intended scene, reference photos, where the artist will work, how much of the process guests will see and when the completed painting will be delivered. The website says final studio work typically takes one to two weeks, but the delivery arrangements should still be confirmed for the specific event.

For guest illustrations, confirm the expected number of portraits, the schedule, whether couples or small groups will be included, the pickup process and whether additional artists are recommended for the guest count. Couples should also confirm travel charges, the current quote, deposit and balance dates, contract terms, setup requirements and the artist's availability for the chosen wedding date.

• Which service or combination of services is included
• Expected guest count and portrait timeline
• Scene, reference-photo and studio-finish details for a canvas
• Travel charges, setup needs and delivery or pickup arrangements
• Current availability, contract terms and payment schedule

About Lockwood Studios

The official About page identifies Nethie Lockwood as an artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts focused on painting from Ringling College of Art and Design. It says that colour and light are important influences in the work. For wedding clients, the relevant confirmed offering is the creation of live event paintings and guest portrait keepsakes through Lockwood Studios.

Couples can review the official wedding gallery and service descriptions before contacting the business. The gallery and examples can help them explain the style, moment or guest experience they are considering, while the final scope and price should come from a current quote for their event.

• Artist: Nethie Lockwood
• Studio name: Lockwood Studios
• Wedding-focused examples are available through the official website's Wedding Gallery

Continue planning

• browse the Canada wedding directory
• explore the wedding and bridal guide
• read more Canadian wedding planning resources

Frequently asked questions

Will the live wedding painting be finished on the wedding day?

Not necessarily. The official website says the artist takes the painting back to the studio after the event to add details, complete the final touches and apply protective varnish. This process typically takes about one to two weeks.

How many guests can be painted at an event?

The website gives an average pace of about six minutes per guest, or around 10 guests per hour, although timing varies with clothing, accessories and conversation. For larger events, the artist says she works with other artists to accommodate the guest count.

Can couples or families appear together in one guest portrait?

Yes. The official FAQ says couples, families and small groups can be included in one portrait. It says horizontal portraits can comfortably fit around four to five adults in one composition, with additional flexibility for children.

What deposit is required to book?

The stated booking process requires a 50% deposit to secure the date after the contract is reviewed and signed. The remaining balance is due the day before the event.

Sources checked

• Nethie Lockwood Live Wedding Painter & Guest Portrait Artist -Vancouver BC
• Live Painter Nethie Lockwood Vancouver BC
• Live Painter Nethie Lockwood Vancouver BC

Website: https://www.nethielockwood.com/