Pet Portrait Commission

Pet Portrait Commission

I’ve been oil painting for over ten years now, and pets are some of my favourite subjects to work from. There’s a lot of character in an animal’s eyes and the set of their ears — getting that right is what turns a likeness into a proper portrait, not just a copy of a photo.

Sizes and pricing

A5 is £100. A4 is £175. Larger sizes or multiple pets are available, just get in touch for a quote. Turnaround is normally around two weeks, sometimes longer depending on how many commissions I have on at once. Let me know your preferred size when you send your photo through the form.

Capturing personality, not just a likeness

Every animal holds itself differently. I spend as much time working out the personality in a reference photo — the tilt of the head, the particular look in the eyes — as I do the technical painting itself. Dogs, cats, horses, birds, and other much-loved animals are all welcome.

How the process works

Send me a photo through the form below, ideally one with good lighting so I can read the fur, colour and form properly. I paint in layers, building up the piece over several sessions, working through coat texture and colour gradually rather than all at once. I’ll check in partway through if there’s anything specific about the likeness you want me to get right.

Materials and framing

I paint on canvas board, and each piece comes framed and ready to hang. I keep the framing simple, usually a plain wood or black frame, so the painting itself stays the focus.

A gift that lasts

A hand-painted pet portrait tends to mean more than most gifts — it’s a nice option for a birthday, Christmas, an anniversary, a new pet owner settling in, or as a memorial piece for a pet that’s no longer around. It’s not something that ends up in a drawer.

Common questions

What kind of photo should I send?
Clear, well lit, and reasonably high resolution, ideally taken at your pet’s eye level rather than looking down at them. If the photo’s too dark or blurry I’ll ask for another before I start, since the painting can only be as good as the reference.

Can I commission more than one pet in the same portrait?
Yes, though it’ll need a custom quote rather than the standard price above.

How is the portrait delivered?
Framed and packaged securely. I post within the UK as standard and can arrange international shipping on request.

Do you ship internationally?
Yes. Get in touch if you’re outside the UK for a shipping estimate before commissioning.

Start Your Commission

Fill out the form below with a clear reference photo and I’ll get back to you to confirm details before I begin.

Photo tip: good, even lighting at your pet’s eye level gives the best result — the piece can only be as good as the reference it’s painted from. If you’re unsure, feel free to send a couple of options.

Prefer a portrait of a person instead? Have a look at my Oil Painted Portrait or Trois Crayon Portrait commissions, or see more past work on the Portraits page.