Capturing Your Pet’s Personality in Pencil 🎨🐾

Welcome to my blog! I thought I’d start by sharing a little about why I create pet portraits, what makes them so special, and what you can expect if you’re considering commissioning one of your own.

For many of us, our pets are so much more than animals — they’re family, companions, and friends who bring us endless joy (and occasionally muddy pawprints!). A portrait is a way of celebrating that bond and capturing their unique character forever.

I work in coloured pencils, using Faber-Castell Polychromos and Caran d’Ache Luminance on fine art paper. This allows me to achieve the depth, detail, and realism that brings your pet to life on the page — every whisker, every feather, every glint in the eye.

Each commission is completely bespoke. Some people choose a portrait as a heartfelt gift for a loved one, others as a keepsake of a much-missed pet. Whatever the reason, the process is always personal, and I take great care to make each drawing as unique as the animal it represents.

In this blog, I’ll be sharing behind-the-scenes looks at my drawing process, tips on taking the perfect reference photo, and stories from clients who have commissioned portraits of their beloved pets.

If you’re curious about commissioning your own, or simply want to follow along as I create, then you’re in the right place.

Thanks for being here — and I can’t wait to share more with you.

Niki Clifton

Wildlife Artist & Pet Portraits