From your photos to your wall…

How to order a portrait

A phone call or a message is all it takes to start. Christine handles each order personally: she'll help you with your photos and a size, paint your portrait by hand at her studio in Weobley, and email you a photo of it when it's finished.

Send Christine a message Call 07790 726719

Deposit from £60: Non-refundable, £60 to £175 depending on size.
Allow at least four weeks: You'll be given an approximate completion date when you order.
Paying: BACS (bank transfer) or card payment over the phone. The balance is due on completion.
Posted or collected: Royal Mail guaranteed next-day delivery or courier, or collect it.

see the six steps ↓

Watercolour portrait of a deerhound dog with a wiry coat

Photo of the deerhound dog in front of a brick wall — the owner's photo

Six steps to your portrait

Here's everything that happens, from your first call to hanging the finished painting. Open any step for the detail.

Call or send a message
Phone Christine on 07790 726719, or send her a message and she'll reply by email. Tell her about your pet and the portrait you'd like.
There's no form to fill in.
Not sure where to start?
That's fine: Christine handles each order personally, and she's happy to advise on photos, size, pose and layout. The details she'll need are listed in step 3.
Send your photos
Add a good selection of clear, close-up photos to your message, or send them by replying to Christine's email. Say which ones you'd like Christine to work from, and add notes to help with expression and colouring.
Not sure your photos are good enough?
Send them to Christine first, and she'll tell you whether they're suitable and suggest poses and a layout for the portrait. See the photo tips below.
Pets in a group don't have to be in the same photo: Christine can work from individual photos.
If you can't get the photo you want, book a photo shoot. Bring your pet to the studio, or to one of Christine's shows and events.

Choose a size and pay the deposit

There are four sizes, mounted or framed. The best size depends on your photos and on the size and breed of your pet, and Christine is happy to advise. A non-refundable deposit is required with each portrait ordered.

All prices include VAT. Sizes include the mount.
Size	Mounted	Framed	Deposit
Small11″ × 14″	£195	£220	£60
Standard18″ × 14″	£345	£380	£90
Medium22″ × 18″	£480	£525	£125
Large30″ × 24″	£690	£755	£175

Pay by BACS (bank transfer) or card payment over the phone. Other payment methods can be arranged. Get in touch for details. You'll be given an approximate completion date.

What Christine will need to know

Your name, address and contact phone numbers
Your photos
The size of portrait, and head or full body
How many pets, and the layout you'd like for a group
Mounted or framed
A caption, title or your pet's name
Your completion date, if you have one, and whether it's to be posted or collected
The delivery address
Whether it's a secret, so Christine doesn't mention it if she phones
Where you heard about Christine's work

All orders are subject to the terms and conditions.

Groups, head or full body, and backgrounds

How many pets?

Small: 1 animal only
Standard: 1 or 2 animals
Medium: 3 or more animals: add £50
Large: 3 or more animals: add £50

Head or full body

Tell Christine whether you'd like a head or full-body portrait. See the size guide for what suits each size.

Backgrounds

Head portraits usually have a pale colour wash behind the head. For full-body portraits, Christine can change the background from the one in your photo to a scene from your garden or another memorable place, and include toys, trophies or rosettes. Please send photos of anything you'd like included.

Christine paints your portrait
Each portrait is painted by hand at the studio in Weobley. Waiting times vary with workload, so please allow at least four weeks for any deadline.
Ordering for Christmas? Order as early as you can.
Need it sooner?
Shorter deadlines can be met if necessary. Please phone 07790 726719 to arrange.
See it, then pay the balance
When your portrait is finished, Christine emails you a photo of it. The balance is paid on completion, before the portrait is sent or collected.
What if I'm not happy with it?
Minor adjustments can be made, and a further photo sent for your approval. If you're still not happy, the portrait must be returned to the studio before the balance is refunded. Deposits are non-refundable.
Delivered or collected
Portraits are sent by Royal Mail guaranteed next-day delivery or by courier. Or make an appointment to collect yours, or pick it up at one of Christine's shows and events.
Postage costs
UK postage. Orders outside the UK are sent unframed only. Get in touch for international postage.
Size Unframed Framed
Small £8 £12
Standard £12 £15
Medium £15 £15
Large £15 £20

UK postage. Orders outside the UK are sent unframed only. Get in touch for international postage.
Size	Unframed	Framed
Small	£8	£12
Standard	£12	£15
Medium	£15	£15
Large	£15	£20

Choosing your photos

The better the photo, the better the portrait. Send your photos to Christine for feedback on whether they're suitable, and on poses and layout.

A ginger and white cat sitting at the far end of a hallway, small in the frame — Tricky: too far away

The same cat photographed close up, filling the frame — Good: close, with detail

Get close

For the best results, photos need to be close up with good detail. Your pet should fill the frame, not be a small speck in it.

A springer spaniel photographed from above, looking up at the camera — Tricky: not a typical pose

The same spaniel photographed at its own level, head slightly turned — Good: typical expression

Choose a typical expression

Pick photos that show your pet's usual pose and expression. A three-quarter view of the head works better than straight on for most breeds: it stops the nose looking flat and gives the face dimension.

A dark horse's head photographed in dull light, with little detail visible — Tricky: poor light

A bay horse in a bridle photographed in good light, ears forward — Good: good light, ears alert

Find good light

Natural light is best, when the sun isn't too bright. For a black dog or cat, try a cloudy day. For horses, get close and make sure the ears look alert.

Close-up of a spaniel's freckled nose and amber eyes — nose and eyes

The same spaniel standing on grass, showing the markings on its body — body markings

Send extra photos for details

If you have them, send photos that show particular details, like these of nose markings, eye colour and body.

A black cocker spaniel sitting on a tiled floor, looking up — body from this one

Close-up of the same cocker spaniel's head — head from this one

Two photos can make one portrait

If one photo isn't quite right (ears down, mouth open), Christine can work from several to paint the portrait you want.

Painting a group?

Pets don't have to be in the same photo. Christine can work from individual photos, but if you do have a photo of them together, please send it too.

Close-up photo of a tan and white Jack Russell with a blue collar

Photo of a Jack Russell wearing a red scarf

Photo of a Jack Russell with a red collar

Watercolour portrait of three Jack Russell Terriers' heads together

Christine kneeling in a garden with a camera, holding up a treat, while a boy holds a collie still — someone holds the dog, a treat gets its attention

Taking your own photos

Dogs and cats

Take photos outside if you can.
Get down to your pet's eye level.
If your dog keeps moving forward, ask someone to hold it.
Hold up a toy or treat, or have someone behind you making noises, to get its attention.
Make it fun with treats and toys, and ask a friend to help if it's difficult.

Horses

A good place to photograph a horse is over a stable door.
To get its attention, have someone rattle a gate or food bucket, or clap, behind the camera.
Remove the head collar first if you don't want it in the painting.

Indoors

If you have to use a flash, send extra photos that show the normal colouring, for example of the eyes.

Inside Christine's studio: a wooden table, sofa and framed portraits on the walls — the studio in Weobley

Photo shoots

Let Christine take the photos

Book an appointment and bring your pets to the studio. A photo shoot lasts about 45 to 60 minutes (longer for bigger groups). Christine is very experienced at photographing even the most difficult pets, and she'll help you choose your favourite photo for the portrait.

Sometimes Christine can visit your home or stable. Please ask about availability.

more about photo shoots →

Questions

How long does a portrait take?

Waiting times vary with workload. You'll be given an approximate completion date when you order. Please allow at least four weeks for any deadline. Shorter deadlines can be met if necessary: please phone to arrange. For Christmas, order as early as possible.

How do I pay?

A non-refundable deposit is required with each portrait ordered.Small £60, Standard £90, Medium £125, Large £175. The balance is paid on completion, before the portrait is sent or collected.

Pay by BACS (bank transfer) or card payment over the phone. Other payment methods can be arranged. Get in touch for details.

Which size is best for my portrait?

It depends on the quality of your photos and the size or breed of your pet. See the prices and size guide, or ask Christine.

What photos should I send?

A good selection of clear photos. Say which are the main ones to work from, and add notes to help with expression and colouring. See the photo tips, or book a photo shoot.

I only have printed photos. What can I do?

A clear phone photo of the print usually works: take it in daylight, straight on, without glare, and add it to your message. If that doesn't work, call Christine on 07790 726719 and she'll tell you where to send the prints. They'll be returned.

What happens when the portrait is finished?

Christine emails you a photo of the finished portrait. Then an appointment is made to collect it, or it's sent by Royal Mail guaranteed delivery or by courier.

What if I don't like it?

Christine has been painting since 1987. She'll know before taking on a commission whether a photo will make a good painting, and she'll talk through what you want when you order.

If you're not happy, minor adjustments can be made and a further photo sent for your approval. If you're still not happy, the portrait must be returned to the studio before the balance is refunded. Deposits are non-refundable.

Can you send a portrait abroad?

Yes. Orders outside the UK are sent unframed only. Get in touch for international postage.

Ready to start?

Call or send Christine a message. She handles each order personally, and will help with photos, size and layout.

New message

To: Christine Varley
Subject: A portrait of my…

Hello Christine, I'd love a portrait of my dog. Which size would you suggest?

Send Christine a message

Or call 07790 726719