About me...

My husband, Martin, and I live in Dorridge, Solihull. While he’s busy in the Financial Services industry, I spend my days at my drawing desk creating detailed coloured pencil artwork of beloved pets.
 

Recently, however, my drawing time has been delightfully interrupted — we’ve become Puppy Raisers for Guide Dogs UK! Our puppy, Ulani, arrived at the beginning of October, and life has been wonderfully hectic as we settle her in and begin her training. After losing our beautiful dog, Vesper, we decided to volunteer with Guide Dogs rather than bring another pet into our home right away. I’ve always been passionate about volunteering and supporting others, and when I learned about the opportunity to give a loving home to a future Guide Dog, it felt like the perfect way to honour Vesper’s memory. It’s still early days, but we’re so proud to be part of such an inspiring charity and excited for the adventures ahead with Ulani. You can follow our journey on my blog, where I’ll be sharing all the ups and downs, fun and frolics, and the unique experience of raising a Guide Dogs puppy. Every portrait commission helps to raise funds for the amazing Guide Dogs UK charity, so together we're helping to support people living with sight loss.

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Although I now live in Dorridge, my roots are in Kent, where my love for both art and animals first began. From our family dog, Kizzy the Border Collie, to my beautiful Bengal cat Nala, and of course our much-missed Miniature Schnauzer Vesper, animals have always held a special place in my heart. Their companionship, love, and unique personalities inspired me to start drawing — initially just to capture Vesper on paper. What began as a few simple sketches soon became a passion, and ultimately, my career as a pet portrait artist.

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I’m dedicated to capturing the spirit and personality of each animal I draw. Working in coloured pencil allows me to build depth, texture, and lifelike detail — a slow and meditative process that I find incredibly fulfilling. Each portrait takes between 30 and 50 hours (sometimes more for larger pieces), as I carefully layer pigments to bring every whisker, glint, and fur texture to life.

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One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is collaborating with pet owners. Every commission tells a story — a bond, a memory, a beloved companion — and I feel truly privileged to help preserve those moments through art.

If you’d like to see more of my work, chat about your pet, or commission a custom portrait, I’d love to hear from you. Together, let’s celebrate the joy our pets bring into our lives and create artwork to treasure for years to come.

 

Warm wishes,
Nicola