9 Marvelous Artists Specializing in Pet Portraits
These dog-loving artists from across the globe masterfully capture canine personalities on the canvas.
Pet portraiture involves more than capturing a mere likeness; it’s about conveying palpable emotion, personality quirks, and the irreplaceable bond between pets and their people.
In other words, this art form offers pet parents much more than some top-notch wall decor. For many dog lovers, pet portraits are a heartfelt way to celebrate and pay homage to a one-of-a-kind pet who has passed away. For those experiencing loss, a custom portrait becomes a healing tribute, honoring the life and spirit of a loyal friend.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to nine international pet portrait artists, each with a well-honed style and a deep-seated passion for dishing out some truly exceptional canine art.
Zann Hemphill - Canada
Canadian artist Zann Hemphill favors oil paints because they allow her to "work wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry to capture a beautiful variety of fur textures." Her dynamic use of color and movement creates a lively celebration of each dog's individuality. Alongside her standard pet portraits, Zann also offers pet memorial portraits in which pet ashes can be mixed into the paint, establishing a powerful physical tie to the canvas.
Amy Elizabeth - UK
This UK artist and her canine studio assistant (the adorable Silver Miniature Schnauzer named Monty) create portraits that radiate warmth and detail. Amy is a "self-taught" artist who uses colored pencils and pastels to craft realistic portraits. Amy also offers pet portrait gift vouchers for those looking to give a custom pet portrait experience to a friend or family member.
Alex Movchun - Ukraine
Ukrainian artist Alex Movchun originally got his start in architecture but left his job in 2015 to devote himself to oil painting. Alex masterfully lends his eye for structure and detail to vivid pet depictions, ideal for owners seeking something unique, colorful, and expressive. Although his main area is pet portraiture, he also enjoys dabbling in other genres like landscapes/cityscapes and still life.
Ben Lenovitz - USA
Born and raised in New York, Ben Lenovitz’s whimsical style and playful use of bold colors set his pet portraits apart. Ben discovered his love for canine art during a brief stint at a small antique shop in Osaka, Japan for a NYC fair. This "a-ha moment" led to him taking up residence as an in-house pet portrait at Fishs Eddy in New York. Props to Ben for painting under the intimidating gaze of many an impatient pup!
Rachelle O'Regan - Ireland
Ireland's Rachelle O'Regan has over 20 years of experience providing premium commissioned canine portraits. Rachelle brings soulful canine close-ups to life on the canvas with a knack for capturing every dog's uniquely expressive eyes. She offers acrylic paint portraits as well as pencil portraits – a testament to the breadth of her artistic talent.
Fiona Purves - Scotland
Illustrator and artist Fiona Purves blends realism with a touch of whimsy, creating pet portraits that feel both authentic and uplifting. She primarily works "in pencil, gouache, and ink" from her home studio, accompanied by her dog, Jeffers. Her artistic approach can be summed up as "fine detail balanced with expressive mark-making." You can read more about Fiona's simultaneous love of dogs and pet portraiture on her blog: Paint, Pencils, and Ink.
Ashley Bunting - Australia
Ashley Bunting is a figurative oil painter who specializes in "ethereal, poetic, and romantic styles." In addition to pet portraits, she also dazzles with her live wedding paintings and photography (per van Heerden Studio). Her adaptive artistry, using a depth of color and movement, charmingly captures canine personality on the canvas (and provides some great painting ASMR).
Bevan Smith - New Zealand
This graphite artist from New Zealand began drawing his friends' pets while working toward his BA in Applied Science (Animal Management and Welfare). Since then, he's held several exhibitions of his pencil drawings portraying animal life that leaps right off the page. His "deep emotional connection with nature" continues to guide and inspire his artistic pursuits on all fronts.
Patricia Otero - Spain
Patricia Otero is a full-time artist and proud dog mom to "6 naughty terriers." Her specialty is hyperrealistic large-scale portraits. She's been taking commissions from clients all over the world since 2015 and now offers online courses on painting portraits with pastel/pastel pencils. Her bright and airy portraits are so detailed and full of life, it's easy to mistake them as photographs.
Looking for more dog-loving listicles? Check out our top 40 canine influencers on Instagram and our recent spotlight on 7 delightful bookstore-dwelling dogs!
