Written by Paul Worrall
Commissioning a pet portrait is one of those purchases that means more than almost anything else you’ll buy as an art lover — a genuine likeness of an animal who’s family, captured properly rather than just photographed. I’ve spent sixteen years in the UK art supplies industry and run Discount Art Supplies, and pet portrait commissions come up regularly in our community of 36,000 UK artists and art lovers. Here’s a genuine, honestly compiled list of UK pet portrait artists currently taking commissions, organised by style so you can find the right fit for your pet and your budget.
Quick Guide — Pet Portrait Styles & Typical Prices
Pencil/graphite: From around £35-275 depending on size and artist — classic monochrome, highly detailed.
Watercolour: From around £130-320 — soft, expressive, great for capturing fur texture and colour.
Oil painting: From around £1,500+ — the most traditional and longest-lasting medium, priced accordingly.
Lead time: Most commissioned pet portraits take 4-6 weeks, sometimes longer for oils. Order early for birthdays, Christmas or anniversaries.
I had a portrait done of my own childhood dog, Sam, a few years back — commissioned from a photo that was honestly a bit grainy and not the easiest reference to work from. The artist, Jason Gilliate, captured something in his expression that I genuinely hadn’t expected from a photo that ordinary. It’s still one of the most treasured things in my parents’ house. That’s the thing about a good pet portrait artist — they don’t just copy the photo, they find the bit of personality the camera missed.
Melanie Phillips & Nicholas Beall — Pencil and Oil, Wales
Established in 1996 with over 850 commissions completed worldwide, Melanie and Nicholas work from a custom-built studio in rural Wales producing hand-drawn pencil portraits and oil paintings of dogs, cats and horses. Pencil drawings start from £275 on Arches watercolour paper, with oil paintings from £1,500 on fine linen canvas. Their Life Story portraits — combining 2-6 photographs of the same pet into one composition — are a particularly thoughtful option for memorial commissions. Visit their website →
Sema Martin — Coloured Pencil, Wales
An award-winning pet portrait artist working primarily in coloured pencil, Sema has been featured in several UK publications as one of the country’s leading pet portrait painters. She works from photographs and ships internationally, with a strong focus on capturing each animal’s individual character rather than producing a generic likeness. Visit her website →
Gemma Keith — Watercolour, Pencil & Ink
Gemma offers genuine flexibility across three mediums — graphite pencil, watercolour and dip-pen ink — with transparent published pricing starting at £35 for an A4 ink portrait up to £320 for a larger multi-subject watercolour piece. Her watercolour commissions, painted using Winsor & Newton paints, are her most popular option. Free UK postage on all completed pieces. Visit her website →
Rachel Drake — Watercolour & Pencil
Rachel works in both watercolour and pencil, taking commissions for dogs, cats, horses and other animals from owner-submitted photographs. She deliberately keeps backgrounds simple, letting the animal’s personality and markings take full focus. Portraits take 4-6 weeks to complete with a deposit required upfront — £150 for watercolour, £100 for pencil. Visit her website →
Bonny Snowdon — Realistic Pet Portraits
Bonny specialises in highly realistic pet portraits and works from good quality digital photographs, often combining several images to find the best likeness before starting. Her waiting list typically opens annually and books up quickly, so early enquiry is worthwhile if you have a specific occasion in mind. Finished portraits are professionally mounted with acid-free materials before shipping. Visit her website →
Karen M Berisford — Coloured Pencil, Northumberland
Based in Northumberland, Karen works primarily in coloured pencil and has built a dedicated following for her detailed dog portraits over many years. Her process and pricing information is available directly through her website, along with photography tips to help owners submit the best possible reference photo before committing to a commission. Visit her website →
Finding More Pet Portrait Artists on Etsy
Etsy remains one of the best places to discover independent UK pet portrait artists working in every conceivable style — digital pop-art style portraits, woodblock pencil illustrations, custom illustrated cartoons and more. Amy McKimm, a Surrey-based self-taught artist working in Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolours, is one of several genuinely talented sellers worth searching out there. When browsing Etsy for a pet portrait commission, check seller reviews carefully and message before ordering to confirm turnaround time, especially around Christmas and Valentine’s Day when demand spikes significantly.
How to Choose the Right Pet Portrait Style
Pencil and graphite suit owners who want a classic, timeless feel — particularly striking for black and white or strongly marked animals where tonal contrast does the work. Watercolour is the most popular choice overall, bringing out fur texture and colour with a softness that suits most pets beautifully. Oil painting is the most traditional and longest-lasting medium but priced accordingly — the right choice for a genuinely heirloom-quality piece. Digital and pop-art styles, widely available through Etsy, suit owners wanting something more playful or contemporary rather than a traditional fine art finish.
Whatever style you choose, sending a clear, well-lit photograph with the animal’s eyes in sharp focus makes the single biggest difference to the finished result — most artists will guide you through this before you commit.
Are You a Pet Portrait Artist?
If you create pet portraits and would like to be featured on this page, get in touch via our contact page. This guide is updated regularly as we discover more genuinely talented UK pet portrait artists.
