Pet Portrait Commissions by Jill Michelle Smith
I really enjoy creating beautiful commissions in my unique illustrative style using sepia pen & watercolour. Whether you are looking for a portrait of your dog, cat or other special pet or have another subject in mind which you would like commissioned then contact me with your requirements and I will be delighted to help.
For dog, cat and other pet portraits, I work from a selection of good quality photographs within a background of your choice such as floral, garden or beach. I can even include your pet’s favourite toy on request.
Your original, quality mounted artwork of your pet is available in two sizes:
14” x 11” mount size – £95
20” x 16” mount size – £115 (with two animals – £135)
If you would like more than two pets in a painting please contact me for an individual quote. A £30 deposit required on placement of all pet portrait orders. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for completion. Worldwide shipping available.
If you are looking for a commission of another subject matter such as Norfolk wildlife or countryside scene, then please get in touch for pricing. Framing is also available for an additional cost.
Below are some examples of my pet portraiture and commissions
Daisy the Dalmatian
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
Daisy the dalmatian is a very beautiful young lady. I painted her very carefully so that I didn’t miss out any of her individual markings. I was provided with some wonderful photographs to work from and placed her in a garden scene in front of a backdrop of daisies – her namesake!
View original photo of Daisy
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Nellie the Cockerpoo
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
Nellie is a lovely girl whose owner, Helen, runs the South Norfolk branch of barkingmad.uk.com.
Nellie is shown here wearing her company bandanna (although I have made the logo a little bigger – artistic licence!)
Helen said that Nellie’s favourite place is the beach so I painted her in a lovely sandy scene.
View original photo of Nellie
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Saffy the Golden Cocker Spaniel
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
Saffy is a beautiful golden cocker spaniel and a delight to paint. I used a perfect pose from a photograph but put her in a seaside scene. Saffy loves the beach, and spends lots of time playing with pebbles between her front paws, something I hope that I have managed to capture in the painting.
Merlin and Dyllis, the Welsh Terriers
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
I know brother and sister, Merlin and Dyllis, very well as they belong to a friend of mine. They are feisty little Welsh terriers, so what a wonderful choice of names! I had a marvellous photo reference to work from then placed them in a garden scene with ox eye daisies.
View original photo of Merlin and Dyllis
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Oliver the Grey Horse
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
I was delighted to take on this commission as it is not very often that I am asked to paint a horse. I really enjoyed painting his beautiful dappled grey coat and portraying his peaceful nature. Oliver is shown in a homely rural scene slowly tucking into his hay.
View original photo of Oliver
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Alfie and Ernie the Rabbits
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
These rabbit brothers were absolutely beautiful and great fun to paint with their unusual markings. Half lop ear and half Dutch rabbit, it wasn’t clear at first whether they were going to have upright ears or lop ears – I think they made the right decision!
View original photos of Alfie and Ernie
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Bailey Goodson the Yorkipoo
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
Bailey is a yorkipoo and such a pretty little boy – in his photos he actually looked like a soft toy and I think this shows in his portrait. He is seen posing with his favourite doggy toy and cuddly cushion bone against a background of roses – his owner’s favourite flowers!
View original photo of Bailey Goodson
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Ben the Collie Cross
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
One of the main features of this painting of Ben, a lively and characterful collie cross, is the inclusion of his favourite toy – Stinky Minky! Ben is always with Stinky Minky so his owners thought it would be great fun to have him in pride of place at the front of the painting with Ben.
View original photo of Ben
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Benji the Lurcher and Brooke the Labrador
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
Benji the lurcher and Brooke the chocolate Labrador’s owner wanted a painting of the two doggy friends together. The original photo I worked from was taken in the kitchen but it was decided that it would be far nicer to place them in the garden and with their favourite teddy!
View original photo of Benji and Brooke
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Mr Bister and Blossom the King Charles Spaniels
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
This delightful pair of King Charles spaniels often enjoy walks with their owners at Overstrand on the Norfolk coast. It is a favourite place for the whole family, so I worked from several photos to bring the pair together in a beach scene with the pebbles and crab shell they love to play with.
View original photos of Mr Bister and Blossom
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Boris the Cockerpoo Puppy
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
Boris was only a puppy when I painted this picture of him. This lovely little cockerpoo belongs to a friend and was a very shy little dog, but I was able to take some lovely photos of him to work from. Here he is shown with all his favourite toys and cuddly cushion.
View original photo of Boris
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Crackers the Parrot
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
This lively and rather noisy parrot is such a character and a real joy to paint. I think I have caught the mischievous look in her eye and was able to set her in a background of hibiscus flowers which are her owner Tracey’s favourites!
View original photo of Crackers
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Daisy and Bud the Cats
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
What a pleasure it was to paint this lovely pair of cats for their owners who could never get the pair of them sitting together for a good photo! They are shown in their owners’ garden with, as you might have guessed, daisy plants!
View original photos of Daisy and Bud
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Dancer the Collie
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
This good-natured collie was a joy to paint with her beautiful colouring and happy smile. Dancer loves going for long country walks through the fields near where she lives in North Walsham and I was able to include her owners’ favourite flowers – poppies, in the background.
View original photo of Dancer
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Darcey the Tabby Cat
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
This beautiful ginger and white girl tabby was commissioned as a special Christmas present for my customer’s wife. I was able to paint Darcey in front of the family’s favourite hydrangeas. The pretty purple colour really compliments the warm ochre of Darcey’s coat.
View original photo of Darcey
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Dolly the Chihuahua and Jack Russell Cross
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
Looking closely at the photos of Dolly I could really see her Chihuahua and Jack Russell heritage. She was a really joyful little dog and great fun to paint. She is shown in my painting in her owners’ garden next to their favourite red geranium plants and with her yellow tennis ball.
View original photo of Dolly
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Dudley the Crossbreed
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
Like so many crossbreeds, perky little Dudley is full of spirit. He loves going for walks in the woods, but he also just loves his favourite toy doughnut! I managed to create a painting which places him in a bluebell wood – but can anyone spot his doughnut?
View original photo of Dudley
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Evie (first painting)
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
Evie very sadly is no longer with us, but her owners wanted a special painting to remember her by. I created this beautiful portrait of her laying contentedly in the garden near her owners favourite flower border.
View original photo of Evie
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Larry the Bedlington Terrier
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
Larry is a very large male Bedlington Terrier with a big character to match! His owners requested that I painted him in a woodland scene as this is his favourite place to walk. He thoroughly enjoys snuffling through all the dry leaves and enjoying all the interesting smells!
View original photos of Larry
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Evie (second painting)
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
Evie’s family were so happy with their first portrait of Evie that they asked for a second one of her, this time posed in her blue bandanna scarf! It makes her look lovely and cheeky and what a wonderful way to remember a very special family friend.
View original photo of Evie
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Frank the Sproodle
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
Frank is a Sproodle, half springer spaniel and half poodle. He is a lovely calm animal and faithful friend. He is shown on the beach, his favourite place for a walk. He wears the bow tie he wore as best man at his owners’ wedding and the painting also includes a symbolic rainbow.
View original photos of Frank
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Hendrix the Collie Cross
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
Well what a wonderful name for a start! He is a rather roguish looking collie cross of advanced years who I really enjoyed painting and setting in a favourite scene. As shown, he still enjoys a walk on the beach with his owner as long as it isn’t too long or too fast!
View original photo of Hendrix
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Kiki the Parrot
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
Kiki Parrot is full of character. Very cheerful and very noisy, she enjoys free flying around her owners living room and perching on shoulders! Kiki’s owner requested a painted background of pretty flowers. This time I chose apple blossom to provide contrast with Kiki’s bright feathers.
View original photo of Kiki
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Martha the Bracco Italiano and Eddie the English Springer Spaniel
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
Martha, a Bracco Italiano, and Eddie, an English springer spaniel, are great friends despite their size difference. Another pair of dogs who just love time on the beach playing with each other and their owners, so a seaside scene as a background was requested.
View original photos of Martha and Eddie
Mickey the Cat
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
My Mickey was the most beautiful grey cat who sadly passed away after reaching the grand age of nineteen. I wanted a painting of my own to look at every day, so I created this winter scene. Mickey loved the outdoor life although he was the most cuddly of cats when indoors.
View original photo of Mickey
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Myah the Springer Spaniel
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
This beautiful springer spaniel had the most delightful hair style, almost as if she had been permed! Her colouring was a pleasure to paint too and I put her in a riverside setting with ducklings in the background as she loves walking beside water and often jumps in for a swim!
View original photos of Myah
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Dory the Springer Spaniel
Commission in sepia ink and watercolour
Dory is such a beautiful little dog full of character which I think shines out in this jolly painting, Her owners also are very fond of roses so I was able to incorporate a potted rose bush into the design as well as Dory’s favourite play thing – a red and blue stripey sock!
Nelson
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
Nelson was a second commission by the owners of Saffy the golden cocker spaniel. They bought this painting as a family Christmas present. Nelson is quite a character who loves playing in the garden with his favourite rubber burger! This of course had to be in the painting too!
View original photo of Nelson
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Rosco
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
Rosco’s bright eyes and spirit, shine out of this special portrait. He is shown with his favourite snuggle rug and his favourite toy ‘Doggy’. I had to pose this painting carefully and not cover both his ears as in the provided reference or Rosco might have ended up looking like a sheep!
View original photos of Rosco
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Zak the Short-haired Collie
Pet portrait in sepia ink and watercolour
Zak is a really handsome short-haired collie with lots of lovely markings which I really enjoyed painting. As with most collies he is full of energy and loves endless games in the garden most often with his favourite toy, a large rugby ball!
Jill Michelle Art 
