Handmade Ceramic Mosaic Backsplash for Kitchen Wall

We are looking for a skilled ceramic artist or tile setter to design and install a handmade mosaic tile backsplash for our kitchen renovation. The wall area spans roughly nine linear feet behind the stove and countertop, from the edge of the upper cabinets down to the counter surface, with a cutout around a window opening. We would like a custom pattern built from hand-cut tesserae rather than a repeating factory sheet — something with a subtle gradient of blues and greens transitioning into warm terracotta near the stove hood, echoing a coastal-meets-earthy palette we have already chosen for the cabinetry and countertop.

The scope includes: consultation on tile colors and glazes, sourcing or hand-cutting the ceramic tesserae, drawing a full-scale paper template for approval before any tile is set, preparing the existing painted drywall (skim-coating uneven patches, priming with a proper bonding primer), applying thin-set adhesive and setting each piece by hand to follow the pattern, grouting with a color that complements rather than competes with the tile (we are open to your recommendation between a warm grey and a soft cream), and sealing both grout and any porous unglazed tiles against kitchen grease and steam.

We would appreciate photos of at least three prior mosaic backsplash installations, particularly any with curved or gradient color transitions similar to what we are imagining. Please also describe your approach to cutting tesserae safely and cleanly, the type of thin-set and grout you plan to use, and how you handle the outlet cutouts and the window trim junction. Timeline flexibility is fine, but we would like the kitchen usable again within the agreed period. We can provide exact wall measurements, cabinet finish samples, and countertop material swatches once we select an installer, and we are happy to discuss the design further before finalizing the pattern.