Custom venue illustrations can be a beautiful addition to wedding invitations, adding a special and unique touch to the design. Handcrafted illustrations possess a certain liveliness and charm that can complement a wide range of design styles, making them a popular choice among couples.

Milton Park is a stunning wedding venue located in the heart of the picturesque Southern Highlands in New South Wales, Australia. This historic property features beautifully landscaped gardens, grand architecture, and luxurious accommodations, making it the perfect setting for a memorable wedding.

My illustration depicts the pool house located within the Milton Park estate. The illustration captures the building's front facade, highlighting its architectural features and paying attention to details such as the arched windows. The courtyard and garden details along with the trees surrounding the pool house have been incorporated to provide context and emphasise its place within the setting.

Creating the illustration

For this particular illustration, I began by sketching the venue's outline with a pencil and then refined the initial sketch using a pen to produce the final image. In my drawing style I use shading techniques to create form in buildings or depth in a scene. In this instance, I deliberately omitted the vines covering the building front to emphasise the arched windows. The hedges, vases, and trees surrounding the building are depicted with tone to add interest and contrast.

I always try to incorporate greenery or other natural surroundings into my illustrations as this helps to provide depth and context to the image. In my opinion, incorporating natural elements in the illustration helps to create a sense of grounding and can make the building appear less detached when used in the invitation design.

Creating the original illustration.

Once completed, the drawing was scanned and converted to be suitable to use in the design.

Using the illustration

This illustration can be added to any of our Collection designs. For example it can easily be used on the Naomi and Hannah design styles which already feature an illustration. But it can also be added to any of our Collection designs or used on an information card, custom map or program cover.

The illustration is shown here used in the Eloise design style, placed mid-text on the invitation. It is printed in our ‘Dusk’ letterpress ink on Soft white 100% cotton paper. The invitation is paired with Cement envelopes.

Drawing edits or changes

The drawing can be edited, for example the drawing can be cropped tighter or foliage removed. Anything goes really! Just get in touch if you’d like to discuss the options in more detail prior to ordering.

Other illustrations

Illustrations can be of your ceremony or reception venue, the view or surrounding landscape, a significant landmark or perhaps even a place of meaning to you as a couple. Anything goes really! I've created drawings of old churches, hillsides, islands, boats and vistas, and all work equally well. Feel free to contact me with your venue details and ideas before requesting a quote to see what might be possible.

Commission a Custom Illustration

A custom illustration can be a beautiful way to personalise your wedding invitations, save the dates, information cards or programs. Custom illustrations can be added to any of our suites, not just those that feature a sample venue illustration. To begin, we recommend getting in touch to discuss your illustration ideas and options for your suite as well as to receive a quote. If your subject is suitable, there may be some discussion about the important elements to include or angle you'd like to see in the design. Note that I normally like to capture buildings from oblique angle as this adds depth and form.

We offer a number of invitation suites which feature venue illustrations as an integral part of the design style. However, you can also add a venue illustration to any of our suites. You can also use the illustration on different pieces - Information cards, Save the dates, Custom Maps, Menus, Program Covers - the options are endless. See our Illustrations page for more information and examples.