Pet portraits for Christmas can make a wonderfully personal gift, especially for someone whose pet means the world to them. For an animal lover, however, one of the most meaningful gifts can be a portrait of the pet who means so much to them.
I have been creating professional pet portraits since 2010, and over the years many of my commissions have been ordered as surprise gifts for Christmas, birthdays, weddings and other special occasions. Every portrait is individually hand-painted from photographs, making it completely unique to the pet and the person receiving it.
Why choose a pet portrait as a Christmas gift?
Our pets are such an important part of our families. A custom pet portrait isn’t simply another picture of a dog, cat or horse – it is a way of capturing their familiar expression, character and personality in a piece of original artwork.
This is what makes a hand-painted pet portrait particularly special as a Christmas gift. It has been created specifically for one person and their animal, rather than being something that could have been bought for anybody.
A portrait can celebrate a much-loved pet who is still very much part of the family, or it can become a precious memorial to an animal who is deeply missed.
Can I commission a pet portrait as a surprise?
Absolutely. Many of the portraits I create are commissioned as surprises, so the person receiving the gift doesn’t need to know anything about it.
Usually, all I need to begin is a selection of photographs of their pet. Digital photographs are ideal, but I can also work from printed photographs, and I am always happy to look at older or lower-quality photographs to see what may be possible.
If you have several photographs, please send them to me. Even if we ultimately use one particular photograph for the portrait, seeing your pet from different angles can help me understand their features, colouring and character. But if you only have one photograph, please don’t worry – get in touch and send it to me. I will always do my best to see whether I can create a portrait from the photograph you have.
What if the pets aren't together in the same photograph?
This isn’t a problem.
If you would like a portrait featuring two or more pets, I can work from separate photographs and bring them together naturally in one composition. This can be particularly useful when creating a family pet portrait, or when it was never possible to photograph all of the animals together.
Before starting the finished artwork, I can prepare an approximate digital mock-up so that we can discuss the positioning, proportions and overall composition.
Pastel, oil or acrylic – which should I choose?
I create my custom pet portraits in pastels, oils and acrylics, and all three can produce beautiful, highly realistic results.
Pastel is my most popular medium and works wonderfully for pet portraits. Oil paintings can achieve exceptional depth and fine detail, while acrylics offer rich colour and versatility.
If you’re commissioning a portrait as a gift and aren’t sure which medium would be most suitable, don’t worry. I am always happy to advise you after seeing your photographs and discussing the kind of portrait you have in mind.
Dog, cat and horse portraits make wonderfully personal gifts
Dogs are naturally a large part of my work, but I also create portraits of cats, horses and many other animals.
Every animal is different, which is one of the things I love about my work. When I’m creating a portrait, I’m not interested only in reproducing the photograph accurately. I want the finished artwork to feel like that particular animal – the expression and little characteristics that their owner immediately recognises.
That is what can make a custom pet portrait such a personal gift for someone who truly loves their animal.
A Personal Approach to Every Pet Portrait
Every pet portrait I create is approached individually and with a great deal of care. I put my heart and soul into my work, and I want the finished portrait to feel completely right for both you and the person receiving it.
A portrait doesn’t have to be an exact copy of a single photograph. I can make adjustments to the composition, alter the position where possible, remove unwanted details or include important details from another photograph. The background can also be changed or created especially for the portrait to suit your ideas and the overall composition.
Before I begin, we can discuss all of these details together. Every commission is different, and I am always happy to offer suggestions and work with you to create a portrait that feels truly personal.
What if I don't have the perfect photograph?
Please don’t immediately dismiss an idea for a portrait because you think your photographs aren’t good enough.
Good-quality, well-lit photographs certainly make my job easier and give me more information to work from, but I understand that the perfect photograph isn’t always available – particularly when creating a memorial pet portrait.
Send me what you have and I will have a look. Sometimes several photographs can provide different pieces of useful information, even if none of them is perfect on its own.
Ordering pet portraits for Christmas
Christmas is naturally one of the busiest times of year for gift commissions, so I recommend getting in touch as early as possible.
Most of my pet portraits take around a couple of weeks to complete, but this varies depending on the size and complexity of the artwork and, importantly, how many commissions I already have booked.
If you need your portrait in time for Christmas, please tell me your deadline when you enquire. I will always let you know whether I can realistically complete it in time before you book.
I would much rather be honest about a deadline than accept a commission I cannot complete to the standard I expect.
Not sure which portrait they would choose?
Sometimes you know that someone would love a portrait of their pet, but you don’t know which photograph they would choose, what size they would prefer or whether they would like pastel, oil or acrylic.
In that situation, a pet portrait Gift Voucher can be a lovely alternative. The recipient still receives the promise of something very personal for Christmas, but they can then be involved in choosing the photographs and discussing their portrait with me afterwards.
Commissioning a pet portrait for Christmas
If you are thinking about giving a hand-painted pet portrait as a Christmas gift, you are very welcome to get in touch and tell me a little about the pet and the person you are buying for.
You don’t need to have everything decided before contacting me. Send me the photographs you have, let me know approximately what you are considering, and I can help you with the size, composition and choice of medium.
Each portrait is created individually by me from your photographs, with particular attention to the character and expression of the animal.
You can view my Pet Portrait Gallery, see portrait Sizes and Prices, or Contact Me to discuss a Christmas commission.
