Commissioning a dog portrait

Dogs have been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember. Wherever I am, I’m rarely without a dog at my side – even (in fact especially) when I’m away on a painting trip. It was inevitable then, that I would end up painting dogs, and happily, this has become something that I’m asked to do more and more.

If you are interested in having a painting done of your own dog or dogs, please get in touch.

Below is an outline of how the process usually works:
If possible, it’s good to meet the dog. Sometimes people will bring the dog to me at my studio in Lancashire and sometimes I’ll make a trip to you. I will then take a series of photos – exploring angles and positions. With the aid of biscuits, cheese or any number of tried and tested bribes, we normally get what we need within about 20 minutes.

Where it’s not possible to meet the dog, I’m happy to work from your photos. Many people already have lots of their own but if not, I can give you directions to help you get the best shots for me to use as reference. This is usually easier than people think.

After looking at the results and working out which pose or position best represents the dog and their character, I will then produce the painting. When I reach the point where I’m happy with it, I will send an image for you to approve. At this point, the painting is still on the board and can be changed or tweaked to your liking. When we’re all happy, I will have the painting framed in an agreed way and have it delivered to you at home. That’s it!