In-Depth Guide to Life Story Pet Portraits
Everything you need to know about commissioning a Life Story portrait. What they are, how they work, what makes them different and why some clients come back for a second one.
By Melanie Phillips — Professional Pencil Portrait Artist since 1996
Life Story portraits are the commission I find hardest to describe in a sentence because they are really about a conversation as much as a drawing. Every one begins with me asking questions. What was your pet like? What did they do that nobody else would understand? What would you most want someone who never met them to know about them? The answers to those questions are where the portrait begins.
This guide explains what Life Story portraits are, how the process works, what makes them different from a standard pencil drawing and how to decide whether one is right for you. I have been creating them since 2006, nearly 20 years. Life Story portraits have been part of my practice since 2006. In nearly 20 years of offering this service I have come across very few other artists doing anything similar. I love that I have created something unique to me, my style of drawing and ultimatly something my clients love!
What This Guide Covers
- What a Life Story portrait actually is
- How it differs from a standard pencil portrait and when to choose one over the other
- How the conversation and design process works
- What kinds of things can be included — poses, ages, objects, places, symbolic details
- What photographs you need and how many
- Memorial Life Story portraits — drawing from a lifetime of images
- Sizes, prices and what to expect at each scale
- Returning clients — why some people commission a second one
- Practical information — timescale, deposit, delivery
A selection of Life Story portraits. Every composition is completely different because every pet's story is different
What a Life Story Portrait Actually Is
A Life Story portrait is a pencil drawing that combines multiple images of the same pet. Different poses, different ages, different moments — into one carefully designed composition on a single piece of paper. Where a standard portrait captures one moment from one photograph, a Life Story portrait captures several moments at once, telling the fuller story of who your pet is or was.
The most straightforward version might include two or three poses. A head study from one photograph, a full body pose from another and perhaps a sleeping pose that captures a side of them the alert photos never quite show. The composition is designed so that all the elements feel as though they belong together. Balanced, considered, with each pose given enough room to breathe.
But Life Story portraits can go further than that. Meaningful objects can be drawn into the composition — a favourite toy, a lead, a collar. A special place might be suggested. And sometimes, the story itself becomes part of the design in a way that is entirely personal to that pet and that client. Rose was a horse. Her owner asked me to draw a rose into the bottom centre of the composition and it was unique and perfect.
Every Life Story commission begins with a conversation. I love to hear about your pet and their quirks, routines, the things that made them uniquely them. That conversation is where the portrait really begins.
How It Differs from a Standard Pencil Portrait
A standard pencil portrait captures one pose from one photograph. A head study, a three-quarter view or a full body. It is a single, focused image of your pet at a single moment. These portraits can be beautiful and for many commissions they are exactly the right thing.
A Life Story portrait does something different. It is not about a moment, it is about a character. The multi pose format allows me to show the different sides of your pet that no single photograph can capture. The playful one and the sleepy one. The young one and the older one. The way they looked at you and the way they looked out of the window when they thought you were not watching.
The design process is also different. For a standard portrait, the process begins with photo selection. Which photograph best captures what you want to preserve. For a Life Story portrait, the process begins with a conversation. I want to understand your pet's story.
Standard portrait vs Life Story portrait
- Standard portrait — one pose, one photograph, focused study of a single moment
- Life Story portrait — multiple poses, multiple photographs, visual biography of a character
- Standard portrait — design process begins with photo selection
- Life Story portrait — design process begins with a conversation about who your pet is
- Standard portrait — any size from 8x6 upwards, from £275
- Life Story portrait — 16x12 upwards, from £1,200 — larger because more elements need more room
- Both — hand-drawn by Melanie in graphite on Italian Fabriano paper
- Both — beautifully presented, archival quality, built to last for generations
Kipling — a Life Story portrait by Melanie Phillips.
The Conversation — Where Every Life Story Begins
When a client enquires about a Life Story portrait, the first thing I do is ask them to tell me about their pet. Not which photos they have — that comes later. First, I want to know who the animal is.
What was their daily routine? What did they do that made you laugh? How did they sleep — curled up, sprawled out, chin resting on a paw? Did they have a favourite spot? A favourite toy they never let go of? A look they gave you when they wanted something, or a look they gave you when they just wanted to be near you?
These questions produce answers that cannot be found in any photograph, and they are exactly the information I need to design a composition that feels true to that particular animal. Some details find their way directly into the drawing — the toy appears in the composition, or the pose that captures that look becomes the central element. Others are more subtle — they inform the expression I am looking for in the photographs, or the balance of energies between a playful pose and a quieter one.
Hoso — a rough coat Jack Russell Terrier from London
Aleksandra found us the same way many clients do — by looking at many artists, and repeatedly coming back to our website. When she finally got in touch about a memorial portrait for Hoso, before she even sent photos she told me about him. His coat had three distinct phases depending on how recently he had been groomed: proper Jack Russell, highland cattle, and toilet brush. He was best friends with the Italian chefs at the restaurant below her flat — they made him his own pizza. He had a PhD in sleeping under blankets. He knew when blackberry season started and would drag her to his favourite spots to be fed them by hand, having decided that the spikes were not his thing. Towards the end of his life, the only thing he still wanted to eat was strawberries.
By the time Aleksandra sent the photographs, I already knew which poses I was looking for. The alert one where he held eye contact when he wanted something. The gloriously scruffy one — she polled her friends, four to two in favour of scruffy. The one that captured the sunny spot he loved. The design almost built itself from the story.
When the finished portrait arrived, Aleksandra's response was: "It looks fabulous." That is exactly what these portraits are for. Not a likeness — a story. The kind that only someone who truly knew him could have told, and that only a drawing designed around that story could properly hold.
Hoso's Life Story portrait, showing different aspects of Hoso's character
What Can Be Included in a Life Story Portrait
The composition of a Life Story portrait is completely bespoke. There is no template. Each one is designed specifically for that pet, based on what the client tells me and what the photographs show. Here are the elements that appear most often — but this is not an exhaustive list.
Multiple poses of the same pet
This is the heart of most Life Story portraits — two, three, four or more poses of your pet arranged into one cohesive composition. These might be from different photographs taken at different times, or from the same session. A head study for the main focal point, a full body for the context, a sleeping pose for the gentler side. The poses are chosen and arranged to create a composition that feels balanced and complete.
Different ages
One of the most powerful things a Life Story portrait can do is show a pet across time. A puppy pose alongside a mature pose. A young cat and an older cat. The same animal at two very different stages of life, held together in one drawing. Clients who commission these often describe them as the most moving thing about the portrait — seeing who their pet was at the beginning alongside who they became.
Meaningful objects
Favourite toys, leads, collars, bowls — objects that were part of your pet's daily life and that carry meaning because of it. These can be drawn as separate elements within the composition, or held in a paw, or placed naturally within a pose. A worn tennis ball. A particular rope toy. The collar they wore for fifteen years. These details transform a portrait from a likeness into a story.
Special places
A favourite walk, a garden, a stable yard, a particular spot in the house. These can be suggested rather than fully depicted — a soft background element that places the animal somewhere without competing with the main subject.
Symbolic details
Sometimes the most personal touch is something nobody else would even notice. The rose drawn into the bottom of Rose's portrait. A tiny detail that the client and I discussed and that means everything to the person who receives it, and nothing to anyone who does not know the story. This is the kind of thing that only comes from the conversation — and it is the kind of thing that makes a Life Story portrait genuinely irreplaceable.
Multiple pets
Yes — a Life Story portrait can feature more than one animal. A pair of dogs who grew up together, a cat and dog household, a trio of horses. The design becomes more complex but the principle is the same: multiple elements, one cohesive composition, one story told in full.
Rory the dog, Life Story portrait showing different aspects of Rory's character
What Photographs You Need
Unlike a standard portrait, which typically works from one main photograph, a Life Story portrait is designed from a selection of photographs — sometimes many. The more you send, the more choice I have when designing the composition.
The photographs do not all need to be high quality by technical standards. Older prints that have been scanned, screenshots from videos, phone snapshots taken years ago — these are all useful if they capture something real about your pet. What matters is that together they give me enough to work from. One photograph might have the expression I need for the main pose. Another might show the sleeping position. A third from five years ago might capture the youthful energy that I want to include alongside the older, wiser face.
For each pose I plan to draw, I need at least one reasonably clear photograph showing that aspect of the animal — the face in focus, the fur direction readable, the overall pose legible. But I can often combine elements from two photographs if one has the right expression and another has better lighting or a clearer view of the body.
My advice is always the same: send everything. Old photos, recent photos, photos from your phone, photos from other people. Let me go through them and tell you what I can work with. That process of going through the photographs together is often when the design starts to take shape in my mind — and sometimes a photograph you thought was too blurry or too dark is exactly the one that gives the composition its heart.
What helps most when sending photographs
- A selection across different ages if you want to include multiple life stages
- Clear face shots showing the eyes — at least one per pose you would like to include
- Any photographs that capture a specific expression or habit you particularly want preserved
- Photographs of any objects you would like included — toys, collars, leads
- A note about what each photograph shows and why it matters to you
- Any photographs you love even if you are not sure they are usable — let me decide
Memorial Life Story Portraits
A significant proportion of Life Story portrait commissions are memorials. When a pet has passed away, the multi-pose format becomes particularly meaningful — it allows the portrait to draw from photographs spanning the whole of their life, showing them across time in a way that a single portrait simply cannot.
For a memorial commission, the conversation I have with clients at the start is different in character — more careful, more reflective. We talk about who the animal was across their whole life, not just recently. We talk about what they were like as a young animal and how they changed, and what stayed the same. We talk about the things the client most wants to preserve. And sometimes we talk about things the client needs to say out loud, and that is a privilege I take seriously.
If your pet has recently passed and you are considering a memorial Life Story portrait, there is no pressure around timing. Our gift vouchers are valid for two years, and if a family member or friend wants to give you this as a gift, a voucher gives you the freedom to come back to it when you feel ready. Many of our most treasured commissions began as gift vouchers held for months before the client was ready to start.
Please do not worry about whether the photographs you have are good enough. For a memorial commission, send everything — old prints, screenshots, photographs from other people who knew the animal. I will go through it all carefully and tell you honestly what I can work with. You may be surprised.
A Life Story portrait drawn from photographs spanning a lifetime is, in a very real sense, a biography. It is a record of who that animal was across all the years you shared. There is nothing else quite like it.
Archie and Roly — two cats included in one Life Story composition. Multiple pets in one drawing are entirely possible
Sizes and Prices
Life Story portraits are available in four sizes. The larger sizes allow for more poses and more detail in each element — a 24x18 inch drawing has room for five or six elements with real breathing space between them, while a 16x12 works best with two or three. If you are not sure which size is right for the story you want to tell, describe what you have in mind and I will advise.
Life Story portrait sizes and prices
- 16x12 inch — £1,200 — works well for 2-3 poses, ideal for a focused story with one or two key elements
- 18x14 inch — £1,300 — comfortable for 3-4 poses, the most versatile size for most Life Story commissions
- 20x16 inch — £1,400 — suits 4-5 poses, gives each element more room and allows for additional detail
- 24x18 inch — £1,500 — the largest size, suits 5-6 elements, creates a genuinely impressive piece of artwork with real presence on a wall
A deposit of £100 secures your place on the commission list. The final balance is only due after you have seen and approved the finished portrait — you will never be asked to pay in full before you are completely happy with the result.
Full pricing for all portrait types is on our prices and commission information page.
The Design Stage — How the Composition Is Created
After the initial conversation and once I have seen all the photographs, I begin designing the composition. This means deciding which poses to include, how large each element will be, where it will sit within the overall layout, and how the elements relate to each other visually.
A good Life Story composition is not just a collection of drawings placed next to each other. It is a considered arrangement where each element has a purpose — one pose carries the weight of the whole, another adds a contrasting energy, a third provides a quieter counterpoint. The layout has to feel balanced without being symmetrical, varied without being chaotic.
I prepare a design mock-up and share it with you before any drawing begins. This is the stage where we discuss whether the composition feels right, whether any elements need changing, and whether there is anything you would like to add or adjust. Nothing is started until both of us are happy with the design. This is particularly important for Life Story portraits because the composition is more complex and more personal than a standard portrait — getting it right at the design stage means the drawing itself can proceed with confidence.
The design stage can take a little longer than for a standard portrait, and it should. A rushed composition makes for a portrait that feels unresolved. I take the time this stage needs.
Commissioned drawing of Mikey a Tripaw in his own Life Story portrait.
When to Choose a Life Story Portrait Over a Standard Portrait
Both are beautiful in different ways and the right choice depends on what you want the portrait to do. Here is some honest guidance for different situations.
"I have so many favourite photos and cannot choose just one."
This is one of the most common reasons clients choose a Life Story portrait. When there are several photographs that each capture something essential and the thought of choosing just one feels like a loss — a Life Story portrait is the natural solution. You do not have to choose. The portrait can hold more than one truth at once.
"My pet has a very distinct personality with several different sides."
Some animals are simply too multifaceted for one image to do them justice. The dog who is simultaneously the most energetic animal you have ever met and also the most devoted, gentle presence on a sofa. A Life Story portrait can hold both of those things.
"My pet has passed away and I have photographs from across their whole life."
A Life Story portrait is particularly well suited to memorial commissions with a long archive of photographs. The ability to include a younger pose alongside an older one — to show the animal across time — is one of the most moving things this format can do.
"I want something that will really fill a wall — a significant piece."
A 24x18 inch Life Story portrait is a substantial piece of artwork. The multi-element format fills the space purposefully and at that size the fine detail of each individual drawing is fully visible. These are portraits that stop people in their tracks when they walk into a room.
"I have been looking at lots of artists and I keep coming back to yours."
Our lovely client Aleksandra found us this way when she was looking for someone to create a memorial portrait of Hoso, her rough coat Jack Russell. She looked at many artists, kept returning to our website and eventually got in touch. The reason people come back is usually because they can sense something in our work they cannot find elsewhere. We love animals and we love creating portraits for our cleints and it comes throuhg in our drawings and paintings.
"I am not sure — it feels like a bigger commitment than a standard portrait."
It is a bigger commitment in the sense that it requires more from you — more photographs, more conversation, more engagement with the design process. But that investment is exactly what makes the result so personal. If you are on the fence, the best thing to do is get in touch and tell me about your pet. Sometimes hearing about an animal is enough to know immediately whether a Life Story portrait is the right thing for them.
Practical Information
How long do they take?
Life Story portraits take a little longer than standard pencil portraits because the design stage is more involved and the drawing itself is more complex. If you have a specific date in mind, a birthday, an anniversary, Christmas — get in touch and I will give you an idea of what is possible.
Deposit and payment
A deposit of £100 secures your commission. The final balance is invoiced just prior to starting artwork.
Presentation and delivery
Life Story portraits are presented in the same way as all our commissions. Wrapped in tissue paper, placed in an archival presentation box tied with ribbon, with a handwritten note and a care guide. They are shipped on an express tracked service worldwide. We send photographs of the completed portrait before dispatch and you can request any tweaks before it is sent.
Gift vouchers
Life Story portraits make particularly meaningful gifts whether for a birthday, a significant occasion or a memorial. Our personalised gift vouchers arrive as beautiful A4 Moonpig cards personalised with the recipient's name, the pet's name and your message. They are an especially good option when the recipient would benefit from being involved in the design conversation themselves.
Life Story Portrait Questions
A Life Story portrait is a pencil drawing that combines multiple poses, moments or memories of the same pet into one carefully designed composition. Rather than capturing a single moment, it tells the story of who your pet is — or was. Each one is completely bespoke, designed through a conversation with the client about their pet's personality, habits, favourite things and the moments that meant the most. No two Life Story portraits are ever the same.
Most Life Story portraits include between 2 and 6 different poses or elements. The right number depends on the size of the drawing and how much detail each pose requires. Let me know your ideas and send me your favoruite photos and I can come up with some ideas for you.
A standard pencil portrait captures one pose from one photograph, a focused study of a single moment. A Life Story portrait combines multiple photographs into one cohesive composition — a visual biography rather than a single study. The design process is also different. It begins with a conversation about who your pet is, not just a photo selection. Life Story portraits are also larger and more expensive because they are more complex to design and execute.
The size depends on how many poses you want to include and the complexity of each one. If you are not sure, describe what you have in mind and I will recommend the size that gives the composition room to work properly.
Yes — and this is often what makes a Life Story portrait truly personal. Favourite toys, collars, leads, a special spot, symbolic details that only you would understand — these can all be incorporated into the composition. The rose drawn into Rose the horse's portrait is a perfect example. These touches come from our conversation at the start, not from the photographs. They are the details that transform a portrait from a likeness into a story.
Send as many as you have. For each pose you want to include, I need at least one reasonably clear photograph showing that aspect of the animal. But I can often combine elements from multiple photographs — taking an expression from one and a body pose from another. Older photographs from different stages of life are often exactly what a Life Story portrait needs. Please do not pre-filter — send everything and let me go through it with you.
Yes — many Life Story portraits are memorials, and the multi-pose format is particularly suited to this because it can draw from photographs spanning a whole lifetime. The format means the portrait can show your pet across different ages and stages — young and old, playful and peaceful — which many clients find deeply moving. If your pet has recently passed and you are not yet ready, a gift voucher with our two-year validity gives you the time you need.
Yes — multiple pets can absolutely be included. Two dogs who grew up together, a cat and dog household, a family of horses. The design becomes more complex but the principle is the same: multiple elements, one cohesive composition. We discuss the layout carefully at the design stage to make sure each animal has the space they deserve within the whole.
They take a little longer than standard portraits because the design stage is more involved and the drawing itself is more complex. If you have a specific deadline, let me know when you get in touch. For Christmas commissions, I would recommend getting in touch by August to be safe.
Often the same way Aleksandra found us for Hoso — by looking at many artists, returning to our website repeatedly and eventually deciding to get in touch. That pattern of coming back before committing is something we hear regularly and it usually means the person has been thinking carefully about who they trust with something this personal. Aleksandra wrote in her first message: "I was checking lots of different artists but I kept going back to your website, so decided to stay with it." That is the best possible starting point for a commission and the conversation that follows, about who the animal was, is where the portrait really begins.
