Custom Pet Portraits – Hand-Drawn Art that Captures Your Pet’s Unique Personality
Hand-drawn Pet Portraits
The Perfect Christmas Gift
Transform your favourite photo into a timeless, custom pet portrait. Each piece is meticulously hand-drawn in pastel pencil — no filters, no digital effects, just original artwork created with care and passion.
Whether it’s a playful dog, curious cat or beloved horse, I capture their unique personality and spirit in every stroke.
Now open for Christmas commissions – limited spaces available!
A truly meaningful keepsake or heartfelt gift that celebrates the pets we love most.
Pet Portraits in Pastel Pencils
My custom pastel pencil pet portraits are hand-drawn on high-quality Clairefontaine Pastelmat to achieve exceptional detail and realism. This technique allows me to capture the unique features, textures, and personality of each pet — from dogs and cats to horses and rabbits.
Available in a range of popular sizes, each portrait is a carefully crafted, one-of-a-kind artwork designed to be cherished for a lifetime.
Side by Side — The Portraits & the Pets
Seeing your pets beside their finished portraits is always the most rewarding part of my work. These pastel pencil pieces show how every detail — from the eyes to the expression — helps bring their character to life.
Commissions Now Open:
No matter the species or breed, I can create a stunning pencil pastel portrait of your pet that you’ll treasure forever. Get in touch today to discuss your custom pet portrait!
Custom Pet Portraits in Oil Pastels –
All Pets Welcome!
I specialise in creating beautiful, one-of-a-kind oil pastel portraits of your beloved pets. Whether it’s your playful dog, curious cat, majestic horse, or even your quirky rabbit or tortoise, I’m happy to bring any pet to life on canvas.
Each portrait is carefully crafted with vibrant oil pastels to capture the unique personality and details of your pet. From bold, expressive dogs to elegant horses, every piece is a personalised work of art.
Commissions Now Open:
No matter the species or breed, I can create a stunning oil pastel portrait of your pet that you’ll treasure forever. Get in touch today to discuss your custom pet portrait!
Custom Pet Portraits Hand-painted with Inks
Custom Pet Portraits in Ink – Capture Your Pet’s Unique Personality
Cherish the memory of your beloved pet with a bespoke ink portrait that truly captures their essence. Whether it’s your dog’s playful spirit or your cat’s calm grace, I specialise in creating detailed, personalised ink pet portraits that make the perfect keepsake.
Each portrait is hand-drawn with care and attention to detail, ensuring your pet’s personality shines through. A stunning, timeless piece of art to treasure for years to come.
UK-based Pet Portrait Commissions:
Available to dog owners, cat lovers, horse enthusiasts, and more across the UK. Commission a custom ink portrait today and preserve your pet’s memory forever!
Colourful & Modern Hand-drawn Pet Portraits
A Fun, Vibrant Tribute to Your Pet
If you’re looking for a unique, modern style to celebrate your pet, my colourful pen and ink portraits transform your furry friend into a bold, eye-catching piece of art.
Perfect for adding a splash of colour to any room, these vibrant, illustrative portraits capture your pet’s personality in a fun and contemporary way. A perfect addition to your home or a thoughtful gift for any pet lover!
Commission Your Colourful Pet Portrait Today:
Available for dogs, cats, horses, and more. Get in touch to create a vibrant, personalised artwork that’s sure to brighten up your walls!
Commission a Unique Pet Portrait
Order Your Custom Pet Portrait Today
Looking for a meaningful keepsake or a thoughtful gift? Commission your custom pet portrait now and cherish your pet’s memory for years to come. Contact me today for a quote or to discuss your ideal portrait!
UK-Based Pet Portrait Commissions – Perfect for Any Pet Lover
Prices for custom pet portraits start at £170, depending on the size and medium selected. I offer a variety of options, including oil pastels, pastel pencils, ink, and vibrant, colourful styles to suit your preferences.
Explore My Recent Pet Portraits
Pet Portrait Gallery
Back to the drawing board...
A little intro about me
I’m Julie Skelton, a freelance Graphic Designer based in the picturesque city of York, North Yorkshire. From a young age, I have had a passion for creativity, spending countless hours drawing and painting. After studying Art & Design at York College, I moved to Norwich, where I earned a BA Hons Degree in Graphic Design with a specialisation in Photography.
Upon returning to my hometown of York, I worked as a Graphic Designer at a local print company while continuing to pursue my love for drawing through commissioned pet portraits. With the arrival of my daughter—my bundle of joy—family life brought a whirlwind of activity, along with the decision to take a leap into freelancing under the name Appletree Design Solutions. During this busy chapter of my life, my art and pet portraits had to take a back seat!
Now that my daughter has flown the nest and family life has slowed down a little, I find myself with more time to dedicate to the joy of drawing and painting. It’s truly back to the drawing board for me, and I am relishing every moment! I take such great pleasure in creating pet portraits that bring joy to others. Transforming a photograph of a beloved pet into a unique piece of art is incredibly rewarding.
I enjoy drawing a variety of animals, including cats, dogs, horses, and even tortoises. However, my deep affection for my beautiful Cocker Spaniel, who I consider my soulmate, does make me somewhat biased to the unconditional love of a dog!
I specialise in creating realistic pet portraits using oil pastels, but I have also recently begun experimenting with a more free-spirited approach to painting using inks and watercolors.
My Artistic Offerings
Pet Portrait Services
Oil Pastel Pet Portraits
Vibrant and rich in texture, my oil pastel portraits truly capture the warmth and spirit of your pet.
Pitt Pastel Pencil Pet Portraits
I create each pastel pencil portrait by hand, layering soft colour and detail to capture your pet’s expression and personality. Every piece is drawn on premium Clairefontaine Pastelmat for a lasting, lifelike finish.
Ink Pet Portraits
Delicate and detailed, ink drawings bring out the intricate features and expressions of your pet with precision and elegance.
Photography
If you are struggling to find good quality images of your pet and you live within 30 miles of York, I can come and personally photograph your pet(s) for the cost of my time and travel.
Pet Portrait Gift Vouchers
Looking for the perfect gift for a friend or family member’s special birthday or Christmas? Let me take the stress out of your shopping! A gift voucher is a wonderful choice. Just grab a pet portrait gift voucher, and I’ll whip up a lovely card for you to give to your loved one. They can send me a picture of their furry friend, and I’ll create a beautiful portrait that captures their pet’s personality perfectly.
Custom Portrait Packages
Choose from a variety of portrait packages tailored to suit your needs, including multiple pets and custom backgrounds.
Prices
Prices start at £170 depending on size, number of pets and medium chosen. Please note these are not computer generated digital images, you will receive the unique final artwork.
Commissioning Your Portrait
Simple Process
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Step 1: Initial Consultation
To proceed with your pet portrait request, please contact me for a quote and provide the following:
- Number of pets
- Preferred style (eg. realistic, abstract, etc.)
- Chosen medium (eg. oil, pencil pastel, inks, watercolour, digital)
- Provide high-resolution images of your pets taken from eye level to help capture their likeness accurately. The more images you can share, the better the representation will be.
- If you have a specific date for completion of the pet portrait
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Step 2: Artistic Creation
Once I have reviewed the photographs and confirmed your requirements along with the delivery schedule, a deposit of 30 percent of the agreed price will be requested.
I will then proceed to create a high-quality portrait that captures the unique personality of your pet. After I am satisfied with the final artwork, I will photograph it and send the image to you via email for your review. If you are pleased with the portrait, I will arrange for delivery or collection at your convenience.
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Step 3: Final Delivery
If you live near to York I am happy to arrange a time to hand deliver your pet portrait or arrange collection. All other orders will be shipped by either Royal Mail Special Delivery or by courier. A price will be quoted for delivery at order stage.