When you lose a pet, you lose a part of yourself - a part of your heart that lived outside of you. You lose their presence. Their wagging tail. The greeting when you get home from work. You no longer get to see the companion who's funny quirks you knew inside and out.
A hand-painted watercolour memorial portrait will never fill that absence, because nothing will. But it does something a photograph cannot - it takes their essence, those very quirks that made them who they are, and that energy is infused into the paper onto which they are painted. It takes everything you loved about them and breathes a little life into it, through someone else's eyes, hands, and care.
Many of my clients have told me that when they receive their memorial portrait, they feel like their pet has come home to them, and the portrait becomes one of the most precious things they own.
Memorial commissions make up a significant part of my work, and they are among the commissions I feel most honoured to receive.
What can I paint for you?
I love to paint dogs, cats, horses, and all manner of beautiful animals in predominantly watercolour, using your photographs as a reference. I spend a lot of time with the photograph, feeling into the loving energy of the animal, with all the care and attention I can give.
My goal, and my approach, is to bring as much life to the painting as possible - I take great care in studying the eyes, and all of the little details that made your animal unmistakably themselves. I pick out all of the colours in their fur that speak to me and bring it to life slowly, building up the colour in many layers.
Every memorial portrait is painted by hand in my studio aboard my widebeam boat on the UK canals.
PS - I also paint people, too!
Commissioning a memorial pet portrait as a gift
A watercolour memorial portrait is one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give to someone who has lost a pet. If you're buying for a friend or family member, I can work quietly with you to keep it a surprise - all I need is a good photograph, and a little time. If gathering photos is tricky, get in touch and we'll see if we can work something out together.
Sizes & Pricing
Memorial portraits are available in a range of sizes to suit your space and budget.
Prices containing a single subject start from:
Miniature (6 x 8cmm approx): £37 plus P&P
A6 (10.5 x 14.8cm) £60
A5 (14.8 x 21cm): £105
20cm x 20cm: £135
A4 (21 x 29.7cm): from £195
A3 (29.7 x 42cm): from £295
A note on timing
Grief has no schedule, and there is no right or wring time to commission a memorial portrait. Some people get in touch within days of a loss. Others wait months, or years. Others still will commission me pre-emptively, knowing that to do so after their pet has passed will be to painful for them to endure.
Whenever you're ready, I'm here.
Are you ready to honour your pet?
Please drop your details below, and I'll be in touch for a chat.
