Custom Painting as an Anniversary Gift
An anniversary is one of those dates when an ordinary gift falls short. A custom hand-painted painting turns the place where your story began, a trip or a memory only that couple recognises into an original artwork that lives on their wall and keeps moving them every day.
Rocío Arrupe is an artist based in Málaga, Spain, who specialises in custom hand-painted paintings made from photographs, places and memories. It is not a photo printed on canvas: every commission is painted from scratch for one specific couple.
- From €400
- Original hand-painted artwork
- Certificate of authenticity
- Shipping to the EU, UK, US and more
Have a special date coming up?
Tell me when the anniversary is and which place you want to remember, and we'll plan around it from day one.
I already know what I want · Share my idea →
I'd rather message on WhatsApp →
How to order a custom anniversary painting
- Send a photo of the place and tell what it means to the couple.
- Rocío helps you choose the size, composition and style, and sends you a free preview of your painting.
- If you love it, you book your painting and Rocío paints it by hand in her studio in Málaga.
Rocío works especially with places, landscapes, cities and meaningful scenes, using photographs as the starting point to interpret each story. She doesn't paint portraits of people or pets: she paints the places where the story happened.
Before you book, you see how your painting could look
Rocío improves your photo's composition and colour and, if you like, places it on your wall. You only book if you love it.
The preview is for deciding composition, format and colour. The painting is made by hand and will have its own brushwork and texture.
What clients say
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★★★★★“Talking to Rocío was a before and after: she guided me through the whole process, suggested the size for my living room and even made a mockup of the painting on my own wall. That took my fear away at once.”
Google review · Florence painting, a childhood memory
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★★★★★“She captured the light, the sea and the very special atmosphere of the Baños del Carmen at sunset so well. […] On top of that, working with Rocío was very easy.”
Rebeca · Balneario painting, Málaga
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★★★★★“Rocío managed to turn the photo into a beautiful painting, keeping the memory completely intact but giving it much more life. My parents loved it and were deeply moved when they received it.”
Rosa · Burano painting, Christmas gift
Excerpts from real Google reviews, translated from Spanish.
Price your painting and share your idea
Pick a size and, if you're giving it together with others, how many of you there are: you'll instantly see the reference price and each person's share. No obligation.
An indicative estimate. The final price may vary slightly based on composition and detail, and I always send a written quote before starting.
Continue with my commission →A 10th anniversary gift inspired by Barcelona
A group of friends wanted to give a couple something unforgettable for their 10th anniversary. Instead of another gift, they chose to turn a place that meant something to her into a painting: a Barcelona sunset tied to her childhood memories. Working from a photo of that place, Rocío made the light warmer, closer to how it is remembered than to how the camera captured it, and kept adding layers of colour until the painting stopped being a photo and became a feeling.
| Occasion | 10th anniversary, a gift from a group of friends |
| Place depicted | Barcelona (Spain) |
| Size | 120 × 120 cm |
| Technique | Acrylic on canvas |
“A little piece of Barcelona to be with you always. That is where your story began… and ours with you too.”
The dedication from the friends who commissioned the painting
More of Rocío's custom paintings
Every commission starts from a different photo and story. Here are some of the latest.
Why a custom painting makes a different kind of anniversary gift
- It tells your story. It comes from the place where you met, your first trip or the home where it all began: something only the two of you recognise.
- It works for the couple who has everything. When no object lives up to the years you have shared, a painted memory does.
- It stays for many more anniversaries. It hangs on the wall, not in a drawer. Signed, with a certificate of authenticity and a handwritten dedication from Rocío (and yours too, if you'd like).
Anniversary gift ideas: which memory to turn into a painting
- Where you met: The street, the bar or the beach where your story began.
- Your first trip: The city or landscape of the first trip you took together.
- The proposal: The place where you said yes, to celebrate a paper, silver or golden anniversary.
- Your first home: The façade, the balcony or the view from the window of your first home.
- Your special spot: A landscape, a cove or a village that only makes sense to the two of you.
- As a group gift: Friends or family who club together to give the couple a one-of-a-kind artwork, as in the Barcelona commission.
Prefer a finished painting?
Rocío has original paintings that are finished and ready to ship, painted in her studio in Málaga.
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La Malagueta
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From the Alcazaba
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Crimson Pier
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Stillness on the Danube
Frequently asked questions about custom anniversary paintings
How far ahead should I order a painting for an anniversary?
The sooner, the better: every artwork is painted by hand and the timing depends on the size, the approval of the design and shipping. Add the anniversary date in the form and Rocío will plan the commission with it in mind.
Can several people order it together as a group gift?
Yes. Many anniversary commissions are organised by friends or family who club together for a shared gift. In the calculator you can enter how many of you there are and see each person's share.
What kind of photo do I need?
Any photo of the place works, even an old or blurry one. Rocío doesn't copy the image: she reinterprets the composition, light and colour so the painting looks like the place as the couple remembers it.
How much does a custom anniversary painting cost?
Commissions start at €400. The final price depends on the size and complexity of the artwork. Sizes, prices, process and terms are on Your idea, on canvas. Framing is optional and shipping is quoted separately; you'll get a written quote before work begins.
Can it include a dedication?
Yes. Every painting comes with a handwritten dedication from Rocío and, if you'd like, yours too, like the one that went with the Barcelona painting.
What if I'm not happy with the result?
Rocío doesn't start painting until you approve the preview, and during the process she shares progress shots so you can adjust what's needed before it's finished. The preview is a guide: the painting is made by hand and will have its own brushwork and texture.
Rocío Arrupe
Rocío Arrupe has been painting for more than 30 years. From her studio in Málaga, Spain, she turns places, trips and memories into original acrylic-on-canvas artworks, signed and with a certificate of authenticity.
Shall we turn your memory into a painting?
A special place, a trip, the spot where your story began. From your photo, Rocío creates an original artwork to celebrate your anniversary.
Tell me your story and I'll reply within 24 hours.