Process and materials
Hand-drawn using professional artist materials
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Most of my pet portraits are created in soft pastel, with coloured pencil used for some commissions where its precision and detail are particularly suited to the subject.
Every portrait is individually hand-drawn from your photographs, building up layers of colour, texture and detail to capture both your pet's likeness and personality.
From photograph to finished artwork
Your photographs are the starting point for every commission. I study the reference images carefully, looking at expression, anatomy, markings, colour and the little details that make your pet recognisable.
I then build the portrait gradually, working in layers to develop form, texture and detail. I then build the portrait gradually, working in layers to develop form, texture and detail. Most portraits are created in soft pastel, while some may combine coloured pencil and pastel.
Throughout the process, I'll share work-in-progress photographs at appropriate stages, so you can see your portrait taking shape.
​​Soft Pastel
Soft pastel is my main medium for pet portraits. I love the richness of the colour and the way I can build delicate layers of fur, texture and expression.
I use professional-quality pastels and pastel pencils from established artist ranges, selected for their pigment quality and lightfastness.
Rembrandt · PanPastel · Caran d'Ache · Faber-Castell · Stabilo · Derwent
Coloured Pencil
I also create some portraits using coloured pencil, particularly where the fine detail and controlled layering of the medium suit the subject. These portraits may incorporate a soft pastel background to complement the pencil work.
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Professional artist surfaces
I choose the surface to suit the medium and the individual artwork. For pastel portraits, I mainly work on professional pastel surfaces such as Clairefontaine Pastelmat and UArt.
For coloured pencil work, I use high-quality archival papers selected for their surface, durability and suitability for detailed pencil work.
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Quality & permanence
I use artist-quality materials wherever possible, choosing surfaces and pigments with good lightfastness and permanence. With appropriate care and display, your portrait is created to be enjoyed for many years.
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Thinking about commissioning a portrait?
I'd love to create something special for you. Take a look at the sizes and prices, or get in touch if you'd like to discuss your ideas.
