How It Works - How do I Commission a Pet Portrait?
Looking to commission a custom pet portrait? You’re in the right place. We’re Melanie and Nicholas — professional pet portrait artists with over 25 years of experience capturing the character and charm of dogs, cats, horses, and more in pencil and oil.
We’ve worked with clients all over the world, and many come back time and again. Whether you have a clear idea in mind or need help choosing a photo, we’re always happy to guide you through the process.
Got questions? You’ll find the answers below — or feel free to email or WhatsApp us for a chat about your portrait.
We offer a wide range of prices and sizes. View our prices and sizes. If you would like a bespoke size, please let us know.
Yes! Our pet portraits are in clients' homes all over the world — here in the UK, France, Norway, Netherlands, Sweden, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Canada, America, and Hawaii, to name a few. We love chatting to clients and hearing about where they live. When you get in touch, let us know where you’re from!
Once we have viewed your photos and designed the portrait layout, a deposit is required to secure your place in our commissions list. UK clients can pay by bank transfer, and overseas clients can pay by debit/credit card.
The balance is invoiced when clients have seen the final portrait. Please read our T&C's before ordering.
Yes. We can arrange a monthly payment plan.
Yes, we offer beautiful gift voucher cards. Visit our commission info page for more details.
Yes - always! We can't express enough how important photos are. We work from one main photo for the pose and can use others for detail, coloring, etc. We are unable to repose your pet. It isn't possible to look at a range of photos and then draw or paint your pet in a different pose — for our realistic style, we need a solid reference. Choose a photo where you’d naturally say, “Ahh that’s really good of them.” We’ll use others to help with detail, but the main photo sets the tone and character. We can only go by what you send us.
Yes. If clients would like to visit us in our studio, we can take photos of your dogs for no charge. We are sometimes able to visit clients to take photos of their horses, depending on your location. If you are interested in an oil painting and are struggling with photography, just drop us a line and we can talk options.
Yes. We always create mock-ups or layouts in Photoshop before we start your portrait. It’s only a guide of course, but it helps us all visualize what the final composition will look like. Once Nicholas puts brush to canvas — or I put pencil to paper — it all comes together very naturally.
As many as you have! Honestly, we love seeing your pets. Their stories make us smile (and sometimes cry, especially if they've passed). It’s an emotional job — we understand how much they mean to you.
Yes, we can! It’s usually best to send separate photos of each pet, but seeing them together helps. We’ll combine them into one drawing or painting. Take a look at our photography tips page for guidance on how best to capture your pets.
As large as possible, please — no screenshots! If you're using WhatsApp, send them directly from your photo app. Otherwise, email is perfect. Need help? Just ask!
Yes, but keep in mind: the more pets you want in one portrait, the larger the size needs to be. Drop us a line if you’d like help deciding on size.
Yes! Oil portraits are ideal for scenic backgrounds, but we can also do lovely graphite backgrounds in pencil. Let us know your ideas, and we’ll talk through options.
Oil portraits are painted in full color on linen canvas and don’t need glass framing. Pencil drawings are black and white, hand-drawn on Italian Fabriano paper, and must be framed under glass with a mount. The two mediums can’t be combined in the same piece.
Absolutely! Every portrait is bespoke — just tell us your idea, and we’ll send you a quote. Think about where you want to display it too — cut out some paper in different sizes and hold it up on your wall to help visualize. And we’re always happy to guide you.
Yes, we email a final photo to you before posting so you can request any final tweaks.
No! Rolling a painting may cause damage to the surface. Stretching it afterward can warp it even more. So we never roll an oil painting. All of our oils are painted on ready-stretched canvas using hardwood stretcher bars and are ready for framing.
We have been shipping portraits safely for over 25 years. UK delivery is from £30 depending on size. International shipping starts at £100. All are sent fully tracked in eco-friendly packaging — perfect for gifting and easy to reuse or recycle.
Sadly, our wonderful framers retired during Covid, and we haven’t found another quite like them. We no longer offer framing, but we’re more than happy to help you find a local framer and offer advice — or chat directly with them if they have questions.
Please let us know in advance if your portrait will be used for packaging, product labels, or logos. We’ve worked with many companies and can advise on copyright usage. We hold the copyright on our artwork, and usage without permission isn’t allowed — especially since client photos are often involved.
If you would like us to, we love sharing the stories behind our portraits and featuring them on our blog. But if you'd prefer your portrait (or your name) not to be shared publicly, just let us know — we completely understand. We’ve worked with well-known clients and always respect their privacy.
If you are new here — welcome! You can learn more about us (and Lily, our Tibetan Terrier, and the chickens!) in the ‘About Us’ section of the website. We live and work in rural Wales in a renovated old cottage with a studio in our woodland garden. It’s our little slice of heaven.
Pet Portrait FAQ – What You Need to Know
Ideally, your photo should be clear, in focus, and taken at your pet’s eye level — not from above or too far away. Good lighting (natural light is best) and a direct view of the eyes makes all the difference in capturing your pet’s character. If you're unsure, feel free to send a few and we will happily advise.
Yes, we often combine pets from separate photos into one portrait. It’s very common, especially if the pets are no longer with us or never sat nicely together in one shot. We will work with you to make sure the composition feels natural and balanced.
Yes, absolutely — as long as you have permission from the photographer. We are happy to work from professionally taken images, but it’s always important to double-check usage rights if it wasn’t taken by you.
Timings can vary depending on the size and medium, but typically portraits take around 1–3 months to complete. We’ll always give you a personalised estimate when you book — and we will keep you updated throughout.
Yes, a deposit secures your place in our commission schedule. The remaining balance is due once your portrait is complete and ready to ship. We’ll guide you through the steps when you’re ready to book.
We accept bank transfers (UK and international) and most major debit/credit cards. If you have a preferred method, just let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate.
Yes – we will help you choose a background that complements your pet. Some clients prefer a simple neutral tone, while others like a suggestion of a garden or sofa. We’ll work with your ideas and guide you through what will look best.
We always show you a photo of the finished portrait before posting. Small tweaks are absolutely fine — we want you to be 100% happy. If anything more major is needed we’ll discuss what’s possible and let you know if any extra time or cost is involved.
Yes, we ship worldwide. Our portraits have gone to clients across the UK, USA, Europe, Australia, and beyond. Everything is carefully packaged and tracked to ensure it reaches you safely, wherever you are.
While damage is extremely rare, we always ask clients to check parcels as soon as they arrive. If anything is wrong, contact us straight away with a photo and we’ll work with you to put it right, whether that means a repair or replacement.
Understanding Your Portrait's Timeline
We completely understand how exciting it is to commission a portrait of your pet – and we are just as excited to create it for you. Every portrait is a unique piece of artwork and we take great care to ensure it receives the time and attention it deserves.
There are a few key factors that affect how long your portrait will take to complete:
- Medium – Oil paintings naturally take longer than pencil drawings, as each layer needs time to dry before the next can be added. Pencil drawings tend to have a shorter turnaround.
- Size and Detail – The bigger the portrait or the more intricate the composition (think detailed backgrounds or multiple pets), the more time we will need to complete it to our usual high standard.
- Our Current Schedule – We work on a booking system and complete each commission in the order it’s received. During busy times, your place in our queue may affect the delivery timeline.
To give you a general idea, here are some typical timescales:
- Pencil Drawings – A smaller drawing may take around 7 days to complete, while larger, more detailed pieces could take up to 2 weeks.
- Oil Paintings – A 12x10" oil portrait often takes around 2 weeks to paint, not including essential drying time between layers.
Overall Turnaround: From booking to delivery, most portraits are completed within 1 to 3 months. When you confirm your commission, we will give you an estimated completion date based on the portrait size, medium and our current schedule.
We never rush the creative process. Our aim is always to create a timeless, heartfelt portrait that you’ll treasure for years to come.
