Memorial portraits
Pet Memorial Portraits, Hand-Painted From Your Photo
We paint memorial portraits of dogs, cats, horses and other pets by hand from the photos you have — old, blurry or combined — and you approve a digital proof before the painting ships.
There is no rush on our side and no pressure on yours. Send the photos when you are ready, and we will tell you plainly what they will support.
How a memorial portrait is made
- 01
You send every photo you have. We look at them together and tell you which detail level they support and which will lead the likeness.
- 02
We agree the composition — head-and-shoulders is the most common — and the age and expression you want.
- 03
One painter takes the piece from sketch to varnish. For memorial work we usually recommend the Hyperreal level.
- 04
You receive the digital proof: straight on for likeness, raking light for texture. Adjustments are made until you say yes.
- 05
The painting is varnished, framed if ordered, crated and shipped with tracking.
Working from imperfect photos
The best photo of a pet who has passed is rarely the one taken for a painting. We combine references routinely — one for the eyes and expression, one for the coat colour, one for the pose — and paint the animal as you remember it. Black pets, whose photos are often the hardest, are a specialty; see how we handle black fur.
A name, dates or a short line can be painted onto the canvas or set on a small brass plate on the frame. Ashes cannot be incorporated into the paint; we say so plainly because we are asked.
| From | Any photos, including old, low-resolution or combined |
|---|---|
| Recommended level | Hyperreal or Refined |
| Popular sizes | 11 × 14 in and 16 × 20 in head studies |
| Lettering | On the canvas or on a brass plate, optional |
| Approval | Digital proof before shipping, unlimited adjustments at that stage |
Proof of hand
Real paint, real brushstrokes
Every piece is completed by one painter from start to finish — no assembly line. Below: a close-up crop of a finished painting, and a painter at work. Every image on this site is a photograph of real hand-painted work.
Memorial portrait FAQ
I only have a few old phone photos. Is that enough?
Usually, yes. Memorial portraits are painted from imperfect references more often than not — one photo for the eyes, another for the coat colour, another for the pose. Send everything you have and we tell you honestly which detail level they support before you commit.
Can you paint my pet as they were before they got old or ill?
Yes. Tell us the age you want and send a photo from that time if you have one; if you only have later photos, we can paint the animal at that age with the greying softened, and confirm it on the proof.
Can you include a name, dates or a short line?
Yes — painted onto the canvas, or supplied as a small brass plate on the frame. Tell us the wording at order; it appears on the proof.
Which detail level should I choose?
Most memorial pieces are painted at the Refined or Hyperreal level. Hyperreal gives the presence owners are looking for — individual hairs, the texture of the iris — and is the level we recommend when the photos support it.
Can you paint two pets who never met, together?
Yes. Animals who were never photographed together are painted from separate references, matched for scale and light, with the layout confirmed as a sketch.
Do you work with pet cremation and aftercare businesses?
Yes. Memorial services offer our portraits alongside urns and paw prints at trade pricing from one piece, with the proof step and direct delivery to the family. See the trade page for pet memorial services.
Send the photos when you are ready
Tell us a little about your pet and send whatever photos you have. We reply within a business day with what they will support and a quote — no pressure either way.
Thank you — we have your inquiry.
We reply within 24 hours on business days. Want an answer sooner? Message us on WhatsApp and mention your name.
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