The Perfect Gift for Pet Lovers

Puppy Dog Eyes

From 31st January 2012, 10% of sales proceeds from all dog and cat portraits will be donated to Battersea Dogs & Cats home (Registered charity No. 206394), and 10% from horse portraits will go to Redwings Horse Sanctuary. This is my way of giving something back to the animals who help me earn a living. Learn more…

Immortalize your beloved pet with one of my beautiful hand-painted pet portraits. Painted digitally using a graphics tablet, the completed painting can be printed either onto high quality photo paper, or a box canvas, and delivered to your home.

Example portraits

Simba

Joss

Jet and Socks

Alfie

Sioux

Whisky

Tilly

Honey

What Is a Digital Painting?

Good question. A lot of people think that my digital portraits are just photos that I have manipulated in Photoshop. That is not the case, and I wouldn’t try to sell that as a piece of art (although I know some people do.)

My digital paintings are created in a very similar way to a traditional painting, except that instead of paintbrushes and canvas, the tools I use are a Wacom graphics tablet and Photoshop.

The photograph is used for reference only, and then I use the tablet to ‘paint’ directly into Photoshop.

The final product is a high resolution image file, which can be printed onto photo paper for framing, or onto box canvas which can be hung straight on the wall.

Here’s a video of the entire process of creating a pet portrait, so you can see that the image is painted from scratch and no photo manipulation is involved.

Prices

The price of your painting will depend on the style you choose, how many animals are in the painting, and your printing requirements.

The following prices are for printing on 21 x 21cm photo paper (free delivery within UK). For canvas printing prices see below.

Realist Style

The Realist style is very finely rendered, with an emphasis on the close-up details of the subject such as fur and whiskers. However brushwork is still evident in some areas to maintain the feeling of a painting.

1 animal - £99. Each additional animal - £75

Alla Prima Style

The Alla Prima style is much looser, with details suggested rather than finely rendered. You can see a lot of brushwork in this style, giving it more of a traditionally painted feel.

1 animal - £59. Each additional animal - £45

Charcoal Style

The Charcoal style is a black and white portrait of the head only, with the sketchy appearance of a charcoal drawing.

1 animal – £25. Each additional animal – £15

Canvas Print

To have your painting printed on 12 x 12 inch stretched canvas, add £40 to the above prices. For different size prints please get in touch for a quote. Free delivery within UK.

Get Started

If you’re ready to go ahead, you can send me your photo(s) for approval and I’ll get back to you within 24 hours.

The process is as follows:

Send me your reference photo(s). The quality of the reference photo is very important, so I won’t take any money from you until I have approved the reference photo. To ensure that the reference photo is suitable, please read these guidelines (opens in a new window).
Once I have approved your reference photo, I will take a 20% deposit (non-refundable) before I start the painting.
When the painting is complete, I will send you a low-resolution proof of the final image for your approval. On approval of the proof, you pay the outstanding balance and I will send you the final hi-res image.
If you have requested a canvas print, please allow an extra 2 weeks for printing and delivery. Your print will be delivered by courier.

Get Started Now – Send me your photos

If you have more questions, please check the FAQ below, or send me an email.

Frequently Asked Questions

What sort of photos do you need?

I’m quite strict about the quality of the reference photo because it directly affects the quality of the finished painting, so I have prepared some guidelines and examples to help you take a good reference photo. If you take a snapshot on your mobile phone, it is unlikely to be suitable.

What will the background look like?

I will paint a simple coloured background that complements the subject, as you can see in the examples above. If you want a custom scenic background, please get in touch for a quote.

Do you offer a printing service?

Yes, all portraits include an A4 photographic print, or you can have your finished pet portrait printed onto high quality stretched box canvas, giving it the appearance of a traditional painting. The standard size for a canvas print is 12 x 12 inches. See above for prices. For different sizes please get in touch for a quote. Canvas prints will be delivered by courier, free of charge within the UK.

How long does it take?

From approving your reference photo, it will normally take no longer than 7 days to complete your painting and send you the image file. At busy times it may take longer, in which case I will inform you before I begin. If you need the painting in a hurry, I may be able to do it faster, but there will be an extra charge for this. I will always provide an estimated completion date before I begin. Please allow an extra 2 weeks if you require a canvas print.

Who owns the copyright?

The copyright of the image remains with me. On receipt of the final payment, you are granted a license to use the image as you wish for personal use (see below). I reserve the right to use the image in my promotional material. If you have a special reason you would prefer me not to, please get in touch.

What can I use the image for?

You can use the image for whatever you like, within the realm of personal use, but it can not be used commercially. For example, you can print it onto greetings cards to send to your family, but you can’t reproduce the image on greetings cards with the intention of selling them for profit. If you want to use the image commercially, please contact me for a quote.

What if I’m not happy with the final painting?

I stand by the quality of my work and I will do everything possible to ensure that you are delighted with your portrait. However, in the unlikely event that you remain dissatisfied, you can choose to cancel your order and you will not be charged any outstanding balance. In this event, I will retain copyright of the image and reserve the right to use it for promotional purposes.

Any other questions? Drop me an email.