Bespoke Watercolour Pet Portraits – Dogs, Cats, Horses & Farm animals
If you are searching for a bespoke pet portrait in the UK, lovingly hand painted in traditional watercolour, you are in the right place.
From my Devon studio, I create personalised pet portraits that celebrate the character, colouring and quiet spirit of much-loved animals. Whether you are looking for a dog portrait, cat portrait, horse painting, sheep illustration or British wildlife artwork, each piece is painted by hand using time-honoured techniques on fine paper.
My Style
Recognisable as the breed, but touched with character.
Fur is suggested through flowing watercolour rather than heavy lines. Colours are natural and harmonious. Expressions are kind and thoughtful. There is a softness to each portrait — a sense of personality rather than pose.
It is a style rooted in traditional British countryside illustration, painted with patience and respect for the animals who share our homes and fields.
Larger Watercolour Portraits
For those who would like something more substantial, I also create larger bespoke watercolour portraits.
These allow space for greater detail — flowing fur, surrounding wildflowers, a suggestion of landscape. Ideal for living rooms, country kitchens, studies or hallways, they become a focal point rather than an accent.
Each is painted by hand in my Devon studio using traditional materials, mounted and framed to suit your home.
Pencil Cartoons
For a lighter touch, I also offer pencil cartoons of popular dog breeds.
These are charming, characterful sketches — expressive, slightly whimsical, and full of personality. Perfect for cards, smaller gifts, or as an affordable introduction to a hand drawn portrait.
Loose lines, bright eyes, a suggestion rather than a full rendering — sometimes a simple drawing says everything.
Small Framed Portraits – A Special Yet Affordable Gift
Not every keepsake needs to be grand in scale. My small framed pet portraits make particularly thoughtful gifts — perfect for memorials of a lost companion, birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, or simply as a quiet thank you to someone who loves their animal dearly.
They are beautifully presented, ready to hang, and priced to remain accessible. An heirloom in spirit, yet affordable enough to give generously.
Farm Animal Portraits UK
Alongside companion animals, I specialise in hand painted farm animal portraits in the UK. From much-loved sheep and characterful ponies to working dogs and rare breed cattle, each portrait is created in traditional watercolour with careful attention to colouring, markings and expression.
These bespoke farm animal paintings are particularly popular with farmers, smallholders and those who cherish rural life. A favourite ewe, a child’s first pony, a trusted collie, or a prize-winning pedigree — each can be captured in a portrait that honours both beauty and purpose.
Mini framed farm portraits make thoughtful, affordable gifts for birthdays, retirements or farming milestones, while larger watercolours create a striking focal point in country kitchens, studies or farmhouse living rooms.
If you are searching for a custom farm animal portrait in the UK, painted by hand and rooted in countryside tradition, I would be delighted to create something truly personal for you.
A Timeless Keepsake
A hand painted portrait holds something a photograph cannot — the softness of brush on paper, the small decisions of colour and light, the human touch behind every stroke. It becomes not simply a likeness, but a memory preserved.
Whether you are looking for a bespoke commission or one of the painted pieces available in my shop, each portrait is created with patience, care and a deep affection for the animals that share our lives.
Ready to commission yours?
You might also like..
Welly boot watercolours
Wellies and pets watercolour portrait
Family portraits
Family and pet pictures with a home or special place.
Farm animal gifts
Personalised farm breed gifts and decor
Do you paint from photographs??
Yes. Clear, well-lit photographs taken at your dog’s eye level are best.
Natural light is always helpful. If you are unsure which images to send, you may send a few and I will advise.
Can you personalise the portrait?
Yes. Names can be added in hand lettering, and I can often include small details such as favourite flowers, a collar colour, or a subtle background suggestion. The aim is always to keep the portrait elegant and timeless.
Are the portraits framed?
Mini portraits are supplied mounted and framed.
Larger portraits can be supplied mounted or framed, depending on your preference.
What breeds do you paint?
All breeds are welcome — from gundogs and terriers to toy breeds and working dogs. I've painted sheep, cows, alpacas, chickens and more!
If it matters to you, it can be painted.
Are these printed or hand painted?
Each watercolour portrait is painted by hand in my Devon studio using traditional materials. They are not digitally generated or printed from filters.