Cherie Smith Fine Art Portraits

Cherie is experienced in live event painting and proficient at creating elegant watercolour portraits. During your wedding celebration, she is capable of transforming special moments into beautiful hand-painted keepsakes. As your guests relax, celebrate and make memories, they’ll receive a personalised illustration to take home—a unique favour that captures the joy and essence of your wedding. ​For live wedding guest illustrations, this approach is translated into expressive, elegant portraits created during your celebration. Each guest receives a beautifully hand-painted keepsake that reflects their personality while maintaining a cohesive aesthetic throughout the collection. For bespoke bridal and wedding portrait commissions, the process allows for a greater level of artistic refinement.

How it works?

Live wedding illustration is a unique form of live event entertainment where your guests receive a hand-painted portrait created during your wedding day.

As your celebration unfolds, guests visit my illustration station where I sketch their portrait by hand, capturing not only their likeness but also the details of their outfit, expression, and personality. Each illustration is carefully finished with colour to create a beautiful keepsake they can take home before the evening ends.

Watching the artwork come to life is all part of the experience. Guests love seeing the creative process, chatting as they pose, and collecting a personalised piece of art that reminds them of your special day.

More than just a wedding favour, live illustration creates memorable moments. It gives your guests an interactive experience and a one-of-a-kind keepsake they’ll treasure long after the celebration. Every portrait is individually crafted in the moment, making each piece as unique as the person it’s created for.

Whether you’re planning an intimate gathering or a grand celebration, live wedding illustration adds a thoughtful, elegant touch that leaves a lasting

Art has always been a passion of mine, and I wanted to combine my creativity with the joy of celebrating life’s most meaningful occasions. That’s how 'Cherie Smith - Fine Art Illustrations' was born—a business dedicated to creating beautiful keepsakes that allow guests to take home a lasting memory of a truly unforgettable day. My Promise My goal is to make every guest feel special while creating artwork that reflects the beauty, atmosphere, and love surrounding your wedding day. Every illustration is painted with care, attention to detail, and a genuine passion for celebrating your story.

Observation lies at the centre of my practice. I am interested in the subtle gestures, expressions, and quiet interactions that reveal character beyond physical likeness. Through considered composition, refined line, and a restrained palette, I seek to create work that balances immediacy with timelessness, inviting viewers to pause and reflect on the stories held within each figure.

Traditional craftsmanship is fundamental to my approach. Each piece is developed with meticulous attention to detail, embracing the tactile qualities of hand-made processes while drawing inspiration from classical portraiture, fashion illustration, and contemporary fine art. The resulting works occupy a space between documentation and interpretation, preserving not only appearance but also atmosphere and emotion.

Ultimately, my practice is an exploration of how art can preserve the significance of a moment beyond its passing. Whether exhibited as individual works or commissioned to mark a personal milestone, each piece is intended to resonate as both a contemporary portrait and a lasting record of shared experience.

Art has shaped every stage of my career. I graduated with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art, refining my skills in portraiture, composition and painting, before furthering my creative education by studying Costume Interpretation at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. These experiences, combined with over 25 years in art education and 10 years as a professional face painter, bring colour, creativity and smiles to countless celebrations and events. Those years have taught me how to work confidently in busy environments, connect with people of all ages, and create beautiful artwork while guests enjoy the occasion.

My work is created for couples who believe that the finest weddings are remembered through the details. They appreciate beautiful design, exceptional craftsmanship, and experiences that feel effortless yet deeply personal.

These are couples who value quality over quantity, sentiment over spectacle, and understand that bespoke artwork becomes one of the few lasting pieces of their wedding day. They choose live guest illustration and commissioned portraits not simply as entertainment, but as an elegant expression of gratitude to those they love most.

Each illustration is thoughtfully created to reflect the atmosphere, style, and emotion of the celebration, resulting in timeless keepsakes that honour both the occasion and the people who made it unforgettable.

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Member Details

Member Name: Cherie Smith

Membership Number: 14561

Membership Category: Standard Annual

Membership Commencement Date: September 9, 2024