Commissions

Start yours

Every commission is created with you — designed around your idea, your story, or a material that matters. You don't need a finished design. Give me the bare bones and I'll help shape it. From a club trophy in native timber to a keepsake made from your own material — if you can picture it, we can make it.

Battle of the Bridge trophy for Bowls Auckland — “Battle of the Bridge” — bespoke commission for Bowls Auckland: a layered 3D engraved skyline on an engraved base, flanked by the club's own bowls.

World Giant Jenga Championship trophy — A very different brief — the “World Giant Jenga Championship” trophy for a university department: a toppling kauri tower on an engraved pūriri base.

The Bailey Cup, a silver two-handled cup with red and yellow ribbons, on a turned base ringed with engraved winners' shields, the new bottom tier in rimu — Not every commission starts from scratch: a new tier turned in rimu for Ellerslie AFC's Bailey Cup, matched to the original base. Lovely to see it back in use, presented to two very deserving recipients at the club's prizegiving.

Sample team retirement tribute in a kauri frame — A team tribute (sample layout) — a whole workplace's handwritten farewells, captured and engraved around a portrait and framed in kauri — your names and messages in everyone's own hand, and your organisation's logo engraved into the frame if you like.

Engraved wine glasses, a matched pair — A small commission in glass — for a lover of both red and white.

How it works

Tell me your idea

A picture, a rough thought, or just a feeling and who it's for. That's enough to start.

We design it together

And when you can't quite picture it, I use AI tools to capture the essence of your idea — so we can see it before anything is made.

Choose the material

Native timbers for the woodwork, or one of your own — a timber you've kept, an heirloom. Engraving I do on timber, canvas, glass and ceramic.

I make it

By hand, one of a kind: woodwork, engraving, or both. I'll keep you posted as it comes together.

Culturally significant work

Some pieces carry cultural significance — tā moko and Māori portraiture in particular. I take those on by commission only, created with and for the people they belong to.

Let's start

Tell me what you're thinking

The best pieces begin as a conversation. Send the bare bones — an occasion, a person, a material, or just a feeling — and I'll come back to you personally. Prefer to talk? mark@customisedartworks.co.nz · 021 204 0720.