Melanie&Nicholas

Oil and Pencil Pet Portraits from Photos

Cat Paintings in Oil On Canvas - Mitzy's Portrait

Welcome to our beautiful cat painting of Mitzy. The painting was traditionally hand painted in oils on canvas by Nicholas Beall. He specialises in oil paintings of cats and thoroughly enjoyed painting Mitzy. Nicholas works from our purpose-built art studio in rural Wales, surrounded by trees and wildlife – the perfect place to paint every day. Scroll down to read more about Mitzy’s commission and view a heartfelt testimonial from our client. You’ll even see a photo of the recipient with the painting, taken on Christmas Day in 2018.

Oil painting of Mitzy, a domestic short-haired cat with striking green eyes, by Nicholas Beall.
Mitzy the Cat

The Story Behind Mitzy’s Portrait

Helen contacted us in 2018 to commission an oil painting of her beautiful cat Mitzy as a Christmas surprise for her husband. Sadly, Mitzy had passed away suddenly earlier that year, and it was a huge loss for the family. Helen felt an oil painting would be the perfect way to remember her.

Helen sent us a selection of photos she’d taken of Mitzy on their table tennis table. The main photo she wanted to use had the tip of Mitzy’s ear cut off. Thankfully, she had others from the same day, and we were able to combine them digitally to create a complete reference. Nicholas then painted from this composite to create the final portrait.

It was a privilege to work on such a meaningful gift, and we hope you enjoy reading the kind messages Helen sent us after seeing the portrait and giving it to her husband, Andrew.

Mitzy's cat oil painting in progress, showing the initial brushwork and composition on canvas.
Mitzy’s oil painting in initial progress.
Close-up detail of Mitzy's cat portrait painting in progress, focusing on eye and fur development.
Detail of Mitzy’s cat portrait painting in progress.

Happy Clients...

"Hi Melanie and Nicholas,

As expected, Andrew was delighted and overwhelmed by his wonderful Mitzy portrait. He cannot believe the outstanding talent involved in creating such a stunning painting. We have had so many compliments from family and friends and have passed your details on to some of them. Mitzy now takes pride of place on our living room wall and stimulates lots of memories of our very special and much loved cat. I have attached a photograph of Andrew with Mitzy’s portrait. I hope 2019 is a great year for you and Nicholas and Lily.

Thank you once again,
Helen x"

"Hi Melanie,
Just a quick email to let you know that Mitzy arrived safely at 8:30 this morning! She looks even more stunning than in the photos and the frame is perfect. I can't believe we have her here after seeing her only two days ago in your studio!

Lovely secure packaging as well. I have seen the blog and video. It was very emotional seeing our special cat taking pride of place on your website. It is lovely to see the progression of the portrait from start to finish. I will let you know how Andrew reacts when he opens his present on Christmas Day! I suspect there may be a few tears!

All the best to you, Nicholas and Lily.
Helen"

How It Works

Curious about how the process works? Our guide walks you through each step—from choosing a photo and deciding on size to seeing the final painting arrive. Whether you’ve commissioned artwork before or it’s your first time, we’re here to make the experience easy and enjoyable.

How It Works
Mitzy's finished cat oil portrait displayed on an easel in the artist's studio.
Mitzy’s oil portrait on an easel.
Mitzy's framed cat oil painting, showcasing the elegant frame chosen for the portrait.
Mitzy’s framed cat oil painting.

Framing the Portrait

The finished painting was framed in a beautifully matched design. Helen was thrilled with the final result, and we’ve included a few images below to show the detail from different angles.

Close-up of Mitzy's framed cat oil portrait, highlighting intricate fur and eye detail.
Close-up of Mitzy’s framed oil portrait.
Mitzy's cat oil portrait beautifully displayed in a home setting, complementing the decor.
Mitzy’s oil portrait displayed in a home.
Mitzy's framed cat portrait in oils, showing the texture of the canvas and frame.
Mitzy’s framed cat portrait in oils.
Mitzy's framed cat oil painting displayed in the client's home, showing its integration into the living space.
Mitzy’s framed oil painting in client's home.

Commission Your Own Cat Portrait

Mitzy’s story is one of many touching commissions we’ve worked on over the years. If you’re ready to commission a special oil painting of your cat, we’d love to create something beautiful and lasting for you.

Visit Our Next Cat Portrait

Christmas Day Surprise

Helen kindly sent us this photo of her husband Andrew with the painting of Mitzy on Christmas Day. We’re always so grateful when clients take the time to send us pictures like this – they really bring the stories on our website to life.

Client Andrew proudly holding Mitzy’s oil portrait on Christmas Day, a touching moment.
Client Andrew with Mitzy's portrait on Christmas Day.
Commission a Portrait

Send us your favourite photos of your dog, cat, or horse and we will help you choose the perfect one for your portrait. We are happy to chat about any ideas you have for a portrait. We can’t wait to get started!

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