Classic Pencil Portraits
Visit my pencil pet portraits gallery with portraits of dogs, cats and horses, drawn from your favourite photos.
Pet Portraits in Oil & Pencil by Melanie & Nicholas
A Very Warm Welcome to our pet portraits commissions in oil & pencil. We are professionally trained pet portrait artists, with 28 years of commission experience. We create lifelike portraits of dogs, cats and horses from your photos, perfect for yourself or as the perfect gift for any pet lover.
My name is Melanie and I work alongside my husband Nicholas in our beautiful art studio nestled in our gorgeous woodland garden in Wales, UK.
We offer two traditional mediums - pencil or oil. My pencil portraits are drawn in graphite pencil and are perfect for a classic black and white pet portrait. Nicholas's oil paintings are rich in colour and depth and offer a beautiful finish that stands out in any setting.
Commission a Classic drawing or a fully hand painted oil portrait from your photos. We are very much looking forward to working with you. Don't hesitate to email or message us at any time!
Pet Portraits in Oil & Pencil Galleries
We are both proud to have our lifelike pet portraits hanging in many homes and collections across the world. Please visit our galleries below to view our work.
Life Story Pet Portraits
Life Story pencil portraits combine multiple photos of your dog, cat or horse into one unique and meaningful artwork.
Traditional Oil Paintings
Traditional oil paintings of dogs, cats and horses, hand-painted from your photo.
Classic Pencil Drawing of Milo by Melanie Phillips
Pet Portraits Commission Questions Answered!
If you have any questions about commissioning a custom pet portrait from either Nicholas or myself we are always happy to help answer any questions you may have. Here are a few of the most popular ones to get you started.
We specialise in highly detailed pencil drawings and classic oil paintings of dogs, cats and horses. Our pencil pet portraits have a timeless, elegant feel, while our oil paintings are rich and full of character. Whether you are looking to commission a traditional head study or a full-body portrait, we will help you choose the perfect style for your pet and your space.
All of our pet portraits are hand drawn or painted by us – Melanie and Nicholas. We have been full time pet portrait artists for over 28 years, creating hundreds of bespoke commissions for clients around the world. We work from our home studio in the UK and each portrait is lifelike, crafted with care, capturing their personality in each pet portrait.
Absolutely – many of our custom pet portraits are commissioned as gifts for birthdays, anniversaries and memorials. If you're short on time or unsure which photo to use, we also offer beautifully packaged gift vouchers, which can be posted directly to the recipient. They make the perfect gift when you would like the recipient to be involved in the process.
Most portraits are completed within 1 to 3 months, but this can vary depending on our schedule and the complexity of the piece. If you have a deadline in mind, such as a birthday or special occasion, please let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate it. We always keep clients updated during the process.
We use the highest quality materials to ensure your pet portrait will last for generations. Our pencil drawings are created using professional grade graphite pencils on handmade Italian Fabriano paper, while our lifelike oil paintings are painted on fine linen canvas using premium oils. Everything is crafted with longevity in mind.
Of course. We are happy to look through your photos and help you choose the best one for a pet portrait commission. If needed, we can combine features from several images to create the ideal composition. The most important thing is that we can clearly see your pet’s eyes and expression – the soul of the portrait.
Yes – we regularly ship to clients in the US, Canada, Australia, and Europe. All portraits are securely packaged using archival tissue, ribbon and sturdy boxes, and are fully insured and tracked. We’ll provide a shipping quote based on your location during the booking process. If you would like to see how we pack our portraits too, why not take a look at our Packing Pet Portraits Behind The Scenes page.
Yes, you’ll find hundreds of examples in our online gallery for oils on our Gallery for Classic Drawings and on our blog, where we share behind-the-scenes stories, client feedback and finished portraits. You can see how we capture personality, fur texture and that all-important sparkle in the eyes.
Each portrait includes the original artwork, beautifully wrapped in tissue paper presented in a black presentation box tied with ribbon, along with a hand written card and care leaflet.
From Blank Canvas to Heirloom Quality Artwork
We were professionally taught at art college, 4 years for Nicholas and 3 for me. We started our pet portraits business in 1996. For many years we have been pouring our hearts into developing our techniques and capturing the personality of people’s pets. All of our clients can watch their hand painted oil portraits develop in our private client portal, along with video snippets too, just like these below.
Oil painting Step By Step
James and Emily on their wedding day with their portrait (UK)
Tracey, Moo and Melanie with Moo's Portrait (UK)
Portraits for all Occasions
When you love a pet and you lose them… looking at their portrait for the first time brings it all flooding back. The love, the memories, the emotion – all wrapped up in that one image. That is why our drawings and paintings matter so much to everyone we work with. They are the perfect gift.
With over 850 commissions and amazing reviews under our belts. You can be rest assured We are experienced professional pet portrait artists in Wales, UK with the highest standards of artwork and customer care. We don’t mass-produce. We don’t outsource. Nor do we cut corners.
Have a look to see what past clients have said about our work. Take a look at our reviews page that dates back to 1996!
Reviews from Happy Customers
"Em's reaction was better than I expected! I gave it to her during my speech! She absolutely adored it and it's now proudly hanging up in the house." - James
"You have captured Roly’s expression and colouring to perfection and we are looking forward very much to having his portrait on our wall. So no tweaks needed, it couldn’t be better! The addition of the plaque is the right finishing touch that highlights Roly’s special place in the family. While I had Archie on my lap, I showed him the photo of his housemate and he couldn’t take his eyes off it! There’s a complement. Very best wishes to you both and thank you so much again." - Gordon and Kirstie x
Step Inside Our Studio
Take a quick peek behind the scenes and see where the magic happens! This short video gives a glimpse into our daily life as pet portrait artists — the commissions, pencils, paint, ribbon and all.
Studio Journal Blog
Take a peek behind the scenes of our studio and discover the stories behind our custom pet portraits commissions.
Our Studio Journal is where we share the journey behind each commission — from first contact and reference photos to the final portrait and client feedback. It’s a window into our daily life as working pet portrait artists.
One of our recent highlights was a commission from actor John Nettles, who asked us to paint his granddaughter’s beloved spaniel, Milo. The pet portrait was based on a rare snowy photograph taken on Jersey — a scene filled with meaning for their family.
You can read more about this special project, and many others, over on our blog.
Painting Commissioned by John Nettles UK
Unboxing Experience
A Thoughtful Birthday or Christmas Gift
We are often contacted by clients looking to commission one of our lifelike pet portraits as a special gift — and we agree, they are a truly personal and meaningful choice. Whether it is for Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, anniversary presents or or memorial tributes, a hand-drawn or painted portrait of a beloved pet is always well received. We pack our pet portraits in beautiful gift boxes with tissue paper and ribbon to make the unboxing experience just as memorable as the artwork itself.
If you are planning to commission a portrait as a gift, we do recommend booking early, especially around busy times of year like Christmas. That said, if you are short on time or not quite sure which photo to choose, we also offer gift certificates. They make a great option for those last minute gifts, giving the recipient the chance to work with us on the perfect pose later on.
