Pets are family — they deserve to be celebrated in art that reflects their personality and the joy they bring. I create custom pet portraits of dogs, cats, horses, and other animals in watercolour or pencil, working from your favourite photographs. Whether you choose the soft washes of watercolour or the fine detail of pencil, your portrait will be a unique tribute to your beloved companion.
To browse the pet portrait gallery simply click on an image to enlarge.
Watercolour vs. Pencil for Pets
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Watercolour – Perfect for a soft, expressive feel with gentle colour tones that bring fur and personality to life.
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Pencil – Ideal for highly detailed, lifelike texture and classic monochrome elegance.
Pets and animals are a delight to draw and paint. However, they are very time consuming with all the details of fur and markings. I generally leave the background uncluttered, adding simple washes of colour or tonal shading in pencil, which enhances the subject. I can include backgrounds at an extra cost if this is important in your composition.
The Commission Process
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Choose your photo – A clear, well-lit image that captures your pet’s personality.
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Select your style & size – Decide between watercolour or pencil, and choose a size to suit your space.
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Handcrafted with care – I create your portrait using high-quality materials for lasting beauty.
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Safe delivery – Your portrait is packaged securely and shipped UK-wide.
When you decide to order a pet portrait commission I ask for a £150 deposit for watercolours and £100 deposit for pencil drawimgs. Portraits can take up to 4-6 weeks to complete due to the time consuming nature of drawing and painting so please bear this in mind if you are wanting one in time for a particular date or event. I will email you a proof of the finished portrait and only when you are completely happy with it will the balance be due.
Pricing
As all animals are so different I give tailored quotes for these types of portraits after I have seen the photograph that you wish me to work from. Please send me your picture(s) and contact me for an initial discussion
View the other galleries
Testimonials
We'd like to thank Rachel for the portrait of our dog, Alfie. When we received this special gift we were amazed by her ability to not only capture his handsome charm but also his caring and loving nature. The portrait takes pride of place in our home and helps us reflect on our fond memories of our beloved dog.
Most importantly for us the portrait helps to keep Alfie a cherished member of our family forever.
R. MacCallum
West Lothian