About Nicholas Beall – Pet Portrait Artist
Welcome to Nicholas’s about page. As you have probably gathered from Browse our site, he’s the artist behind all of our oil pet portraits.
I met Nicholas at college over 28 years ago, and after a few years working on illustration projects for London-based publishers, we decided to set up our own business together… and here we are today, still creating portraits all this time later.
Meet Nicholas
My name is Nicholas, and I’m a professional pet portrait artist. I’ve been lucky enough to earn my living from painting since I left art college 28 years ago. I met Melanie at Bournemouth while we were both studying art. Today, we live and work together in beautiful West Wales, surrounded by stunning views and countryside.
This photo was taken recently at a friend’s wedding in Mwnt — one of our favorite places on the coast.
Home in West Wales
This is our little Welsh cottage, which we have slowly renovated over the last 18 years. It looked very different when we first moved in, but we have worked hard to restore its original charm and character. It’s a fantastic place to live, peaceful, full of personality, and very much home.
It’s taken a lot of effort, but we’re incredibly proud of what we have created here together.
A Cottage with History
Our cottage has changed a lot over the years, but it still holds many of its original features. Inside you will find old oak beams, an inglenook fireplace, and plenty of charm. This photo was taken at Christmas 2020; the star lights were a festive touch for the season. I enjoy splitting logs and stacking wood, and we process trees from our woodland garden to keep us well stocked for the long Welsh winters.
It’s a simple life, but incredibly rewarding, especially when the fire’s roaring on a cold day.
Early Training in Art and Illustration
I began studying art at age 16 at Falmouth College of Art in Cornwall. I completed a two-year Illustration course, which gave me time to explore different mediums and understand how professional illustrators work. I then went on to study Natural History Illustration at Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and Design, and that’s where I met Melanie.
It was the perfect foundation for the Classic, observational painting I do today.
From Illustration to Oil Portraits
After art college, an illustration agency took me on, and I created work for books and magazines, mainly encyclopedias and educational children’s books. But as photography and digital art became more common, traditional illustrators were used less and less. In my spare time, I painted harbor scenes and landscapes for galleries, but I knew it wasn’t where my heart truly was.
Melanie had already started her pet portraits business, and in 1996, I joined her and haven’t looked back since.
Hands-On with the Cottage
We have done much of the renovation work on our cottage ourselves over the years, a proper long-term project! It took around 17 years to fully complete. This photo was taken in 2019, during our roof work. I’m in my element here painting while balanced on scaffolding. Not for the faint-hearted, but definitely memorable!
It’s been a huge effort, but deeply satisfying to shape our home with our own hands.
Living in West Wales
We absolutely love living here and have settled well into our little part of the world, surrounded by good friends. The last few years have been challenging; I had a tough bout of Covid in March 2020, and I'm still living with the after-effects, which is not easy. I can only work a certain number of hours per day these days. It’s always a joy when friends visit on holiday; this photo was taken by a kind passerby while we were out walking in Pembrokeshire. Their dog and ours, Lily, both managed to sneak into the shot!
It’s the kind of place that brings people together: peaceful, friendly, and full of charm.
Summers by the Sea
Summer is the best time here in Wales. When the weather’s fine, we always try to take a bit of time away from the studio and head out along the coast. We love our work, but like any job, it’s important to gain perspective, breathe in some sea air, and recharge. Maybe even spot a few birds while we are out there.
Those breaks keep us grounded, inspired, and ready to get back to the easel.
Where It All Began
As a child, I always had a pencil in my hand, and it was clear from early on that art would be part of my future. These are two of my early watercolor paintings created when I was about 16 or 17. The one on the left is of Polperro harbor, where my family are from. On the right is a study of Respryn, a local beauty spot near my childhood home in Cornwall.
Even back then, I was drawn to capturing atmosphere, light, and place — something that still drives my work today.
Why I Paint
When we first began offering pet portraits, we worked in several different mediums. Over time, I found myself naturally drawn to oils, not just for pets, but for landscapes too. With my background in painting the seascapes and harbors of Cornwall, I’m able to combine animals and landscapes in a way that feels unique. Not many portrait artists do this, and I think that’s one reason clients connect with my work.
Painting is what I do — it’s what I’ve always wanted to do. Living here in Wales has given us the peace and space to grow our business, and our custom-built studio allows me to paint year-round in comfort. It’s a wonderful place to live, full of inspiration, and there’s always something new to explore.
I hope you have enjoyed reading a little about me. If you are interested in commissioning an oil portrait of your pet, I’d love to work with you — please do get in touch.
