Pet Portrait of the Week is Boris, an Irish Water Spaniel. Boris is the first really curly coated dog I've been commissioned to draw or paint and getting to grips with his coat has been a real learning curve. Rather than Liver, like a Springer...
Boxer dog Jack is fondly remembered and greatly missed. This handsome Boxer boy sadly lost his battle with cancer at a very young age. Earlier this year I offered a pet portrait, to be drawn or painted from photos, as a prize in a charity auction held by Zoe's Journey...
Bernese Mountain Dog Blue is a sweet, handsome, mellow boy who was home-bred and named Blue Northern after a winter storm in the western US. At eight and a half years old Blue's health isn't as robust as it once was, but this dream of...
Beautiful Golden Retriever, Eve, gained her wings shortly before she would have celebrated her 13th birthday. Her memorial pet portrait was commissioned as a gift for her owner by a close family member. As an artist it is always both an honour and a tremendous responsibility to be trusted...
As a pet portrait artist and keen dog lover, I'm always humbled and honoured when asked to captured the spirit of a dearly departed pet with a memorial portrait. Golden Retriever Oscar reached the grand age of 15, he is fondly remembered and sadly missed. I was...
They say that a change is as good as a rest … and today felt like a 'make-mistakes, get-messy' kind of day … SO ...
Bernese Mountain Dogs Vino & Rioja love searching for squirrels in the woods, so it seemed only natural to portray them doing what they love best, in their favourite place to be. At 18x26" this portrait is somewhat larger than usual and I'm really looking forward to...
Tabby cat Asia has been the subject on my drawing board this week. It has made a refreshing change to be drawing a cat rather than a canine portrait. Tabby cat Asia and Leonberger Indo were drawn as a matching pair of pet portraits. Sadly Asia passed away...
Lovely Leonberger, Indi's portrait was drawn on dark grey Pastelmat using Faber Castell Albrecht Durer and Caran D'Ache Musuem Aquarelle pencils, applied dry then blended with water. Once the foundation was dry enough to work over the depth and definition was built up using Faber Castell Polychromos along with...
Enjoying the moment and in her element, beautiful Bernese Mountain Dog, Ira, in the snow… The reference photo for this portrait was kindly provided by my dear friend from Norway, Nina Bless, and I've been looking forward to working with it for such a long time. Let...
Welsh Springer Spaniel Yuma was one of the shortlisted finalists in my 2016 Favourite Photos competition. I'm so pleased that I had the opportunity of drawing a portrait of this beautiful little spaniel. His lively eyes and attentive expression captivated me from the first moment I saw...
Bernese Mountain Dog, Ruger, was one of the shortlisted finalists in my 2016 Favourite Photos competition. I love this boy's calm, regal bearing and was delighted to be able to draw his portrait. Ruger's portrait was drawn on pale blue Pastelmat using Faber Castell Albrecht Durer...
Bernese Mountain Dog, Mako, a surprise birthday commission for his dad. Mako's portrait was drawn on brown Pastelmat using Faber Castell Albrecht Durer and Caran D'Ache Musuem Aquarelle pencils, applied dry then blended with water. Once the foundation was dry enough to work over the depth and details...
Bernese Mountain Dog, Jesse, was one of my favourite commissions of 2016, and being a Christmas surprise it was months before I could share a photo of his portrait. Jesse's portrait was drawn on anthracite Pastelmat using Faber Castell Albrecht Durer and Caran D'Ache Musuem Aquarelle artist pencils, applied...
Bernese Mountain Dog, Bernie. Bernie's portrait was drawn on natural Pastelmat using Faber Castell Albrecht Durer and Caran D'Ache Musuem Aquarelle artist pencils, applied dry then blended with water. Once the foundation was dry enough to work over the depth and definition was built up using Faber Castell...
A pet portrait with a difference. Favourite heifer Fawn was a surprise Christmas portrait commission and my first foray into cows and cattle, but such fun to draw and I suspect I'll be revisiting this theme in the coming months. Fawn is a red and white Simmental....
Cute Cairn Terrier, Dave, was an absolute delight to have on my drawing board. The dark grey Pastelmat provides a soft, warm background colour that works beautifully with the tones in his coat. Dave's portrait was hand drawn using Caran D'Ache and Faber Castell artists pencils. This...
In memory of beautiful Golden Retriever Shiloh, this dog portrait was commissioned by a very thoughtful son for his mum as a Christmas surprise. Shiloh's memorial portrait was drawn using Faber Castell and Caran D'Ache artists pencils on dark grey Pastelmat, the soft grey-brown colour worked well...
In memory of sweet German Shepherd, Koda, This sweet girl's portrait was drawn on natural Pastelmat using Faber Castell Albrecht Durer and Caran D'Ache Musuem Aquarelle artist pencils, applied dry then blended with water. Once the foundation was dry enough to work over the depth and definition was...
Gentle Giant Leonberger, MacBeth, was the winner of my 2016 Favourite Photos competition and an absolute delight to have on my drawing board. MacBeth's portrait was drawn on brown Pastelmat using Faber Castell Albrecht Durer and Caran D'Ache Musuem Aquarelle pencils, applied dry then blended with water. Once...
West Highland White Terrier, Alfie. This cheeky little Westie's portrait was drawn on pale blue Pastelmat using Caran D'Ache and Faber Castell artists pencils. This cute dog portrait was a Christmas commissions this year and had to be kept secret for several weeks until it had been framed and gifted. "Very very pleased, I'm...
A memorial portrait in memory of sweet little Jack Russell Terrier, Harvey. Harvey's family had to say goodbye to him very suddenly and his portrait was commissioned by a friend. He was drawn on natural Pastelmat using Faber Castell Albrecht Durer and Caran D'Ache Musuem Aquarelle artist pencils,...
Bernese Mountain Dog Skarlett and Bernese puppy Kodiak. One of my favourite pet portraits of the year so far. Drawn using Faber Castell and Caran D'Ache pencils on Pastelmat. Kodiak's bottom and tail were missing on the reference photo but added in to the finished portrait. The sunburst...
Bernese Mountain Dog, Loki. Loki's portrait was drawn on pale blue Pastelmat using Faber Castell Albrecht Durer and Caran D'Ache Musuem Aquarelle artist pencils, applied dry then blended with water. Once the foundation was dry enough to work over the depth and definition was built up using...
Bernese Mountain Dog, Ted, is the subject on my drawing board this week. I've been using graphite pencils again, instead of colours to create this birthday portrait of my studio buddy. Ted's portrait was drawn just before his 6th birthday, although he's a couple of years younger in...
This week I've been using graphite pencils instead of colours to create this portrait of my studio buddy, Bernese Mountain Dog, Jess. This sassy little fruit loop is a rabbit chasing, fox-poo rolling, pheasant catching, sofa surfing, life-loving sweetheart with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. Jess' portrait...
It's been lovely to have a ginger tabby cat portrait on the drawing board this week. I adore the rich colours and soft depth of Toffee's coat and really enjoyed creating this portrait of him. Toffee is drawn on A3 Pastelmat using a foundation of Faber Castell Albretch...
Matching portraits of Bernese Mountain Dogs, Ronja and Skorpan, were drawn on anthracite Pastelmat using Faber Castell Albrecht Durer and Caran D'Ache Musuem Aquarelle pencils, applied dry then blended with water. Once the foundation was dry enough to work over the depth and definition was built up using...
Zoe's Journey raises funds on behalf of Animal Health Trust for canine cancer research. Incredibly, in just one year, the supporters of Zoe's Journey have raised almost £50,000 for AHT. When founder Jayne May contacted me late last year I was delighted to gift a dog portrait commission to be offered at...
Wonderful Whistler the Welsh Springer Spaniel made a return to my drawing board for a close-up head study. I have previously drawn a full body portrait of this stunning dog. Whistler's portrait was hand drawn using Caran D'Ache and Faber Castell artists pencils on natural Pastelmat. I rather suspect...