Olga Gaikovich is a Russian-born artist, a graduate of the School of Architecture of the renowned Imperial Academy of Fine Arts in St.Petersburg. After her graduation in the late 1990s she came to study to Britain for a post-graduate degree in architecture. When shown her work, celebrated British artist Kyffin Williams said: "I don't think any art student studying in Britain today can produce such a high standard of work". Olga's greatest passion is painting views of period buildings. She says: "Houses are like people: their beauty is not always immediately apparent - it is only after we get to know them better, can we truly appreciate them. Also, like with people, you simply don't know why you suddenly fancy a house - it may look strange, the chimney sticking out in a funny way, the roof falling down but you just fall in love with it!".

Olga has been working in England since 2001 and during this period has created many memorable portraits of private and public buildings. She mainly uses watercolour, sometimes enhanced with ink or bodycolour. Her style of painting is classical and is rooted in the academic traditions of the Russian School of painting. She enjoys painting picturesque cottages in rural settings, as well as creating "portraits" of Neo-Classical buildings in Central London. Along with painting town scenes and landscapes, Olga undertakes private commissions from people who would like to create a memory of their houses for themselves and future generations. Whenever a moment allows, Olga spends her time sketching people and scenes from life - and has been known to be served free meals in restaurants in exchange for a drawing of a place!

Excluding travel & accommodation costs, a commission for a house portrait is usually between £299 and £750, depending on the size of the painting - from 26x36cm (10"x14") up to 36x50cm (14"x20") (unframed). Framing costs are not included, as they can vary greatly. Olga usually works on site, so visits are an intrinsic part of a commission, the process is quite lengthy and often cold (and wet), as well!! Large paintings are usually finished in her studio in London.

This site shows a small selection of Olga's work.