Pet Portrait Gallery
“Really stunning... amazing, and her eyes...I am lost for words!”
said Yvonne when she saw this painting of her whippet 'Honey'. Since the painting was completed, Honey has gained the title of UK Top Whippet, full name 'ch Palmik Starlight Surprise JW'
I met Sian, who lives in Australia, on my exhibition stand at Crufts, where we discussed the painting. On her return home, she emailed some photographs of her Vizsla, Malachy Formally known as "Aus ch Tanashika Mangus Taitu", winner of "Best Head" in Australia. I send work all over the world, so emailing photos is a simple way to get started on your booking.
2013 Crufts Winner
“Christine has certainly captured the characteristics of the breed.”
I met Gavin at a dog show at Stafford Show Ground to take some photographs of "Soletrader Peek a Boo", who won Reserve Best in Show at Crufts 2023. His dog, a Petit Bassett Griffon Vedeen, informally known as Jilly became Crufts champion 2013.
I travelled down to Worcestershire on one of my regularphoto-shoot trips to take photos of this German wire-haired pointer. After taking a selection of photographs the client chose the most typical expression for the portrait.
I took these photographs during my exhibition at Belton Horse Trials. Dianne couldn't decide which side of her Great Dane's magnificent head to paint, so we decided to have a portrait showing both sides of the head in order to see the different markings. She was extremely pleased with the result.
At 9 years old, Lara was diagnosed with cancer. Salli wanted to have a portrait painted to remember her by, so I took some photos before she became too poorly. Even though it was very sad when Lara died, the memory of this much-loved family dog lived on in the painting.
I came out to the home of this lovely weimaraner. The client wanted a full body pose so we decided on a lying down position. Working from the main photo for the pose and a close up of the head for the details, I placed the dog in an outdoor scene with a hint of greenery behind.
This cute little dog lived in a home with five other shizu dogs. Travelling to Manchester, I photographed them all, to paint a large portrait of all 6 dogs. The client came to collect the finished portrait from the studio.
"When I first saw the completed painting of our four dogs, I was absolutely amazed at how life like the images were. We looked far and wide for somebody who could capture the true likeness of our 2 Vizslas, Florence and George, and our 2 Wire haired Vizslas, Nellie and Darcey. We were particularly keen to ensure that the expression of the dogs' eyes should be accurate. You have truly captured the essence of each dog. Although you have captured each dog perfectly, We are particularly pleased with the painting of Florence, who sadly, died aged only 7, a couple of months after you visited our home and took the photos. Because of you, Florence will always be here with her brother and her 2 best friends. "
Watch the Painting Come to LifeAfter winning the Crufts Kennel Club Portrait Competition, Janet brought her two Patterdale Terriers to the studio for me to take the photographs. Lilly, 6 months and Jodie, 4 years are the best of friends and love playing together. In order to get the best expressions I took photos individually and together we selected the best ones for the portrait. When they came to collect, Janet was really impressed with the finished painting, 'its like they will jump out of the picture, you have their characters perfectly...Lilly (left) all inquisitive and Jodie (right) in anticipation of what will happen next.
I took the photographs of these two cairn terriers during my exhibition at Burghley Horse Trials. The client wanted a full boy pose of both dogs sitting. I changed the backgrounds from the photos to one of general outdoor greenery in which to set the dogs for the painting. After arranging an appointment for collection, the portrait was picked up from the studio and they were absolutely delighted with the results
This is a portrait of my crazy spaniel molly! She has the most gorgeous intense amber eyes and wanted her to be starring straight at me in the way that she does when I speak to her. With treats as a bribe I got her to stay still long enough to get the shot and extremely pleased with this painting of her
I photographed this beautiful Husky at the studio. Taking care during the painting to portray the crisp clean lines of the fur and bright eyes, one blue and one brown.
Linda commissioned a head study portrait of her 2 border collies, from photographs I took on a photo-shoot trip after Burghley Horse Trials '...the portrait is now hanging in the lounge. We decided that we would get to see it more in the lounge than in the hall. This leaves room for the second portrait when it is done. We are extremely pleased with the portrait and it looks wonderful where it is hanging'. I am currently working on another collie painting for her working from her own photographs of a collie which died a few years ago.
I met Emma at Crufts and arranged to photograph her 2 rescue dogs at her home. She chose her 2 favourite photographs and as they were quite big dogs, I painted a MEDIUM sized portrait with plain background.
Watch the Painting Come to LifeThis is Indy, a Rhodesian Ridgeback. I wanted to particularly enhance the furrows on Indy's brow which is typical of the him. Click the box above to watch the video.
Janet has had several portraits of her collie dogs over the years. This latest one is of Ziva who is 18months old and we have chosen an alert sitting pose from photographs taken at the studio.
Watch the Painting Come to LifeI went to the offices at the East of England Showground, Betsy's workplace to meet her dog Crosby, a gorgeous tri-border collie. She wanted a portrait of him to match a painting of a previous dog. Click on the button above to view Crosby's Painting come to life as a video.
Three beautiful English Bull Terriers, painted from 3 separate photos and placed together. I cropped the heads off larger photos and zoomed in close to get the painting. By slightly altering the angle of the heads and adding in a neutral background, the 3 of them look like they are all sitting together.
Watch the Painting Come to LifeCheryl has had a painting of her own dogs done before. This time we arranged to take photographs in secret as a surprise present for her parents wedding anniversary. Puting Inca, a rescue husky in the centre, between Jackson and Spike the springer spaniels. Her parents were blown away with the result. Seeing the very character of each dog in the painting; presented to them on their anniversary - A fantastic surprise!
Brenda sent through via email photographs of the three Jack Russell dogs that she has owned over the years for a portrait as a special present to herself with some money she received as a retirement present. Choosing the best ones of the most typical expressions, I put the three dogs heads on a medium sized portrait. I sent the completed framed portrait via courier. Brenda was overwhelmed with the result.
The client was a breeder of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and wanted to have a painting which included some of her pups. On a Large portrait I was able to position small groups to form a montage and a beautiful reminder of her dogs at different ages.
This painting was used on a card to raise funds for the Italian Greyhound Rescue. After meeting Helen at one of the Trade Shows, we chose a photo of her dogs. Just using the head detail and slightly altering the position of them, this design was printed. "Its the best painting of an Italian Greyhound I have ever seen" Helen said when she saw it.
As it was difficult which pose was the best, we decided on the same "STANDARD" sized painting. Jess is a much missed little dog and now her owners very much appreciate this portrait to remember her.
This litter of gorgeous cocker spaniel pups was lovely to paint. With just one golden coloured pup amongst the blue roans it was a lovely memento for the owners once the pups had been rehomed.
