How to commission a pet portrait from a photo
Commissioning a pet portrait from a photograph is simpler than you might think.
You don't need professional photographs or any experience commissioning artwork. All you need to begin is a favourite image of your pet - or a few photographs if you're unsure which would work best.
From there, I'll guide you through choosing the right reference, confirming the details and creating your portrait entirely by hand using coloured pencil and wax crayon.
Whether you're commissioning a portrait of your own pet, creating a gift for someone special or remembering a much-loved companion, this guide explains exactly what happens from choosing your portrait through to receiving the finished artwork.
Original dog photograph displayed beside a finished hand-drawn pet portrait
How do you commission a pet portrait from a photo?
Commissioning a hand-drawn pet portrait is a straightforward process:
Choose your portrait size
Choose between A5, A4 or A3 depending on your pet, available space and preferred budget.Place your order online
Select your size and complete your order using one of the available payment options at checkout.Send your photographs
I'll get in touch to arrange your photographs and help you choose the strongest reference image if needed.Agree the details
We'll confirm the main reference photograph, composition and any important details before I begin drawing.I create your portrait
Your portrait is drawn entirely by hand using coloured pencil and wax crayon on textured watercolour paper.Review the finished artwork
I'll email you a preview of your completed portrait so you can see it before it's dispatched.Receive your portrait
Once approved, your artwork is carefully packaged and sent to you, with UK delivery included in the portrait price.
The sections below explain each stage in more detail, including choosing photographs, prices, turnaround times and delivery.
1. Decide what kind of portrait you want
Before choosing a size, think about who the portrait is for and what you'd like it to include.
You might be commissioning a portrait of your own pet, creating a surprise gift for someone else or choosing artwork to remember a much-loved companion.
You can also include more than one pet in the same portrait. They don't necessarily need to have been photographed together, as separate reference photographs can often be used to create one balanced composition.
If you're looking for more specific guidance, these pages may help:
Dog Portraits – see examples and find out more about commissioning a portrait of your dog.
Pet Portrait Gifts – guidance for birthdays, Christmas and other special occasions.
Memorial Pet Portraits – advice for creating a portrait from treasured or older photographs.
You don't need to have every detail decided at this stage. If you're unsure about your photographs, composition or number of pets, I can help before the drawing begins.
2. Choose your portrait size
Pet portraits are available in three sizes, with the price based on the finished artwork size rather than the number of pets included.
A5 – £65
A compact option that works particularly well for single pets, smaller spaces and thoughtful gifts.A4 – £110
My most popular size, offering more presence and plenty of space for a detailed single-pet portrait.A3 – £170
The largest option, providing greater visual impact and more flexibility for multiple pets or larger displays.
Every size receives the same hand-drawn approach and personal attention, and UK delivery is included in the price.
All portraits are supplied unframed, so you can choose a frame and mount that suits your own home.
If you're including several pets, I may recommend a larger size so there's enough space to keep each animal clear and well balanced within the composition.
Comparison of A5, A4 and A3 hand-drawn pet portrait sizes displayed together
3. Place your order online
Once you've chosen your portrait size, you can place your commission directly through my website.
Simply select A5, A4 or A3, add your portrait to the basket and complete your order using your preferred payment method.
You don't need to upload your photographs during checkout. Once your order is received, I'll get in touch personally to arrange your reference images and discuss anything I need to know before drawing begins.
How can I pay?
You can pay securely online using major credit or debit cards, PayPal or Klarna.
Eligible customers may also be offered flexible payment options such as PayPal Pay in 3 or Klarna Pay in 3 / Pay Later, depending on the options available at checkout.
4. Send your photographs
Once your order is placed, I’ll get in touch to arrange the photographs you’d like me to work from.
You don’t need professional photography. Many of my commissions begin with everyday mobile phone photographs, and you don’t need to decide which image is best before sending them.
If possible, send two to four photographs. I’ll usually choose one as the main reference for the pose and expression, while the others can help me check details such as:
Eye colour and shape
Coat colour and markings
Ears and facial features
Fur texture and length
The most important thing is finding a photograph that looks recognisably like your pet. A technically perfect image isn’t always the strongest reference if another photograph captures the expression you know much better.
If you're unsure which images to send, that's absolutely fine. I'll review them and advise which I think will give us the strongest starting point.
What about older photographs?
Older or lower-quality photographs can often still be used, particularly for memorial portraits where taking another photograph isn't possible.
Don't rule an image out yourself because it isn't perfect. Send me what you have and I can advise what's possible.
Professional photographs aren't necessary - everyday phone photos can make excellent references for a hand-drawn portrait.
5. Agree the reference photo and composition
Before I begin drawing, I'll confirm the photograph we're using as the main reference and discuss any details that could affect the finished portrait.
This might include:
The main photograph I'll work from
How your pet will be positioned within the portrait
The crop of the finished artwork
Any supporting photographs I'll use to check details
How multiple pets will be arranged if you're including more than one
In most cases, one photograph provides the main pose and expression, while other images are simply used to check details such as colouring, markings or features that aren't completely clear.
If you're commissioning a portrait of multiple pets, they don't necessarily need to appear together in the same photograph. Separate reference images can often be brought together into one carefully planned composition.
I'll discuss anything that needs deciding with you before I start, so you don't need to work out the composition yourself.
Reference photo and materials for custom pet portrait
6. Your portrait is drawn entirely by hand
Once the reference photograph and composition are agreed, I can begin creating your portrait.
Every portrait is drawn entirely by hand using coloured pencil and wax crayon on textured watercolour paper. There are no AI-generated elements, digital filters or printed layers involved in the finished artwork.
I gradually build the drawing through layers of colour, texture and detail, paying particular attention to the features that make your pet immediately recognisable.
The aim isn't to produce a rigid copy of the photograph. The reference gives me the information I need, while the drawing process develops it into an original piece of contemporary artwork.
Every portrait is created individually from start to finish and signed before it leaves my studio.
Hand-drawn pet portrait using coloured pencils and wax crayons in progress
7. Review your finished portrait
Once your portrait is complete, I’ll email you a preview of the finished artwork before it’s dispatched.
This gives you the opportunity to see your portrait before it leaves my studio and make sure you’re happy with the finished result.
If there’s a small adjustment that can reasonably be made at this stage, we can discuss it before the artwork is packaged. Because the portrait is created by hand, some changes may not be possible once the drawing is complete, which is why we agree the important details before I begin.
Once you’re happy with the finished portrait, it’s ready to be signed, carefully packaged and sent to you.
Preview of completed hand drawn pet portrait commission
8. Your portrait is carefully packaged and delivered
Once you've approved the finished artwork, I'll carefully package your portrait ready for delivery.
For UK commissions, delivery is included in the portrait price. Your artwork is sent using Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm, which includes tracking and requires confirmation on delivery.
Once your portrait has been dispatched, I'll email you the tracking details so you can follow its journey.
If you're ordering from outside the UK, international delivery is arranged individually. Get in touch before ordering and I can advise on the available options and cost.
For full information about postage, international orders and returns, visit my Delivery & Returns page.
Carefully packaged hand-drawn pet portrait ready for UK delivery
How long does commissioning a pet portrait take?
Most of my hand-drawn pet portraits are completed in around two weeks, although turnaround can vary depending on my current commission schedule.
The process includes time to review your photographs, agree the reference and composition, create the artwork by hand and send you a finished preview before dispatch.
If you're commissioning a portrait for a birthday, anniversary, Christmas or another particular date, it's always best to order as early as possible.
If you're unsure whether I can complete a portrait in time, get in touch before ordering and I'll let you know what's achievable based on my current availability.
Read the Pet Portrait Turnaround Guide
Ask About Current Availability
Commissioning a pet portrait as a gift
A hand-drawn pet portrait can be commissioned as a gift for a birthday, anniversary, Christmas or another special occasion.
You don't need to own the pet yourself. As long as you have access to suitable photographs, I can create the portrait without the recipient being involved, helping you keep it a surprise.
If you're choosing between several photographs, send the options you have and I'll help you identify the strongest reference. This can be particularly useful when you're working from photographs taken by somebody else.
If the portrait is needed for a particular date, let me know as early as possible. I'll confirm whether your preferred deadline is achievable before the commission begins.
For more advice on choosing photographs and planning a portrait as a present, visit my dedicated Pet Portrait Gifts page.
Gift recipient holding her custom hand-drawn Boxer pet portrait
Commissioning a memorial pet portrait
Memorial portraits are often commissioned from photographs that already hold a great deal of meaning.
If your pet is no longer with you, you may not have a perfectly lit or high-resolution photograph to work from. That doesn't necessarily prevent me from creating a portrait.
Older phone photographs, screenshots and other treasured images can often be used as long as they contain enough information about your pet's features, markings and familiar expression.
If you have several photographs, send them all. One might provide the expression you'd like for the finished portrait, while others can help me understand details that aren't clearly visible in the main reference.
You don't need to decide which photograph is suitable yourself. I'm always happy to look through the images you have and advise what's possible before you commission.
For more specific information, visit my Memorial Pet Portraits page.
Real example: Dudley
Dudley's memorial portrait was created from an older mobile phone photograph. Although the reference wasn't technically perfect, it still showed the familiar features and expression needed to create a recognisable portrait.
See how real pet portrait commissions come together
Every commission is slightly different.
Some portraits begin with one strong reference photograph, while others use several images to check details or bring pets together who were never photographed in the same picture.
My Portrait Stories show how this works in practice, with real reference photographs, works in progress and finished artwork from previous commissions.
For example:
Maverick – created from a favourite garden photograph that provided the expression and detail needed for his portrait.
Noodle – created primarily from one reference photograph, with additional images used to check details such as eye colour.
Rocky, Dutch & Jessie – three dogs brought together in one portrait using separate reference photographs.
Dudley – a memorial portrait created from an older mobile phone photograph.
They give you a much better idea of what happens between sending your photographs and receiving the finished artwork.
Frequently asked questions
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Yes. Many of my commissions are created from everyday phone photographs. The most important thing is that I can see enough of your pet’s features, markings and familiar expression to work from.
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Yes. I recommend sending two to four photographs where possible. One will usually become the main reference, while others can help me check colouring, markings and other details.
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Yes. Supporting photographs can be used to provide additional details, and separate photographs can also be used to bring multiple pets together in one composition.
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Yes. Multiple pets can be included in the same portrait and they don’t need to have been photographed together. Pricing is based on the finished artwork size rather than the number of pets.
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No. Send me your favourite options and I’ll help you choose the photograph that will provide the strongest starting point for your portrait.
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My current prices are A5 £65, A4 £110 and A3 £170, with UK delivery included. You can see full details on my Portrait Prices page.
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Most portraits are completed in around two weeks, although this can vary depending on my current commission schedule. If you need your portrait for a particular date, contact me before ordering.
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Yes. I’ll email you a preview of the completed artwork before dispatch so you can see the finished portrait before it leaves my studio.
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Yes. UK delivery is included in the portrait price and completed artwork is sent using Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm.
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Yes. You can commission a portrait of somebody else’s pet using photographs you already have, so the finished artwork can remain a surprise.
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Yes. Memorial portraits can often be created from older or less-than-perfect photographs. Send me the images you have and I’ll advise what will work best.
Continue reading
If you'd like more detail before commissioning, these pages cover the next questions most people have about photographs, pricing and real examples.
How to choose the best photo
Learn what I look for in a reference photograph, what makes an image easier to work from and what to do if your favourite photo isn't perfect.
Portrait sizes & prices
Compare A5, A4 and A3 portraits, see current prices and payment options, and find out exactly what's included with your commission.
Portrait stories
See how real customer photographs have been turned into finished hand-drawn portraits, including gifts, memorials and multiple-pet commissions.
Ready to commission your pet portrait?
If you're ready to begin, simply choose your portrait size and place your order online.
You don't need to have the perfect photograph ready. Once you've ordered, I'll get in touch personally to arrange your reference images and help you choose the strongest option if you're unsure.
Every portrait is drawn entirely by hand from your photographs, with a strong, recognisable likeness at the heart of the finished artwork.
Framed hand-drawn Cocker Spaniel pet portrait displayed in a modern home
