Pet Portraits
Although I am primarily a landscape artist by choice and inclination, early in my rediscovered artistic journey I accepted the request from my daughter in law to paint a portrait of the family pet dachshund, Daisy. I was so taken by her personality that one rendition was not enough and I therefore did a triptych to do her justice.
Daisy
These are now in pride of place in their home. She remains a lively dog in 2025 and has a substantial following on Instagram @daisy_dog_the_dachshund.
Daisy
Daisy
Subsequently other family members and friends asked for sentimental portraits of their beloved pets that I could not refuse. (I haven’t done any cats yet!).
Molly
Hank
Hank
Hank
Cassie
Cassie
Three amigos
Three amigos
In response to the grief of family and friends, in commemoration of their losses, I have given them paintings of their deceased pets. I hope this has been able to help them fill the void with something to remember their important family member by.
Terra
Terra
Milo
Milo
Milo
Dweezel
Dweezel
Dweezel
Sula
Sula
It has been 14 years since I personally started grieving the loss of my favourite pet of my life, Pippa, a beautiful working cocker who was our family pet while my children were growing up. It is only now in 2025 that I have been ready and able to put brush and paint to canvas and honour her memory.
Pippa
Pippa
I do not intend to do commissions of family pets commercially. The portraits shown here have all been given to people as my gift and are not for sale. If other pets of families and friends dear to me pass, then I will be happy to oblige if it helps in the grieving process.
I am a member of the Association of Animal Artists (AAA the leading UK society dedicated to animal art. They support creativity and conservation through a shared love of animals and art.
Biodiversity and Rewilding
The importance of helping to restore our countryside to a more sustainable environment for all our insects and pollinators helps to enhance the ever diminishing biodiversity that we have witnessed in the past 50 years.
My knowledge of bees both managed and feral, bumblebees and solitary bees has been enriched by the writings of Brigit Strawbridge Howard’s brigitstrawbridge1 in her wonderful book “Dancing with Bees, a journey back to Nature “2019, Chelsea Green Publishing.
Another source of bee inspiration and beautiful solitary bee images is the colourful volume “Beekeeping for Gardeners” by Richard Rickitt, 2024, Green Books.
David Attenborough in his 2023 series “Wild Britain” showcased the challenges and opportunities for nature recovery within the UK. He has strongly advocated rewilding our “lost” habitats. Following his production the BBC’s Countryfile started an initiative called “Act of Kindness” asking us, the citizens of the UK, to participate by recording our green actions on an online map.
My favourite recent reading and source of inspiration and hope for our countryside comes from the amazingly empowering book by Isabella Tree “The Book of Rewilding: A Practical Guide to Rewilding, Big and Small” 2023, Bloomsbury
Finally on my own commitment to environmental action and as a contribution to environmental art generally I will make a pledge now to donate a portion of my income from ALL of my art that contains seascapes and the seashore. David Attenborough in his latest film production “Ocean” has eloquently stated that “The ocean can bounce back to life. If left alone it may not just recover but thrive beyond anything anyone alive has ever seen “