Commissions

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Make something that lasts a lifetime

Want to find a unique way to celebrate you and your pets relationship but wary of pet portrait stigma? Well I am doing my bit to offer an alternative to the dreaded “twee” pet portrait and create original artworks that hold their own even in the most cynical of circles.

. And yes I do do cats, horses and any animal you can think of!

A realistic black and white portrait of a dog, likely a greyhound or whippet, on a white wall artwork above a white shelf with a wooden bowl to the right.
A painting of a retriever dog on a canvas, mounted on a wooden easel, with the dogs name 'Henry' on the lower left corner. by Sally Holt
Drawing of a dog with a tennis ball, signed called 'Gracie' by Sally Holt
Interior scene with a black fireplace mantel, a framed black-and-white painting of a small dog hanging on the wall, a small clock, and decorative vases on the mantel; a large black-and-white portrait of a dog is partially visible on the right side.

Commission an original artwork

Dogs and animals have always been my passion. In 2018, I moved from Bristol to Devon to become a full-time artist, sharing a studio with my dog Harry. After Harry passed away, I realised that drawing him was my favourite activity. I loved illustrating him in many ways, and this sparked my love for drawing animals, particularly dogs. Despite facing criticism in the art community that pet portraits are not "real" art, I believe in the idea that "do what you love, and it will shine."

My bond with Harry was incredible, and my art reflected that deep connection. Losing him was heartbreaking and left me lost without my inspiration. Once I returned to the studio, I wanted to help others capture their loving memories of their pets. I believe pet portraits can be heartfelt and unique, using my special technique of canvas and charcoal powder.

Many of my clients come to me after losing their pets, often with just a few photos. I create meaningful artworks that they can proudly display.

For daily updates and videos of my working process follow me on instagram illustrationsally_

A Different type of pet portrait

Make It
A wall with a framed painting of a dog above a black ornate fireplace mantel adorned with a white clock, a small white textured vase, a small cactus in a patterned cup, and a large pale green vase with dried flowers. Artist Sally Holt

The Method

I work directly on unprimed cotton canvas building up layers of charcoal by washing it into the weave. I then re-draw, adjusting lines and marks, refining and removing any unnecessary information. After leaving each layer to dry I spray set the canvas. The process of staining and painting with charcoal in this way is what makes my portraits different and is unique to me.

An artist sketching a detailed drawing of a dog's face on a canvas in an art studio, wearing a red jacket.
A smiling woman in a red jacket is drawing a detailed pencil portrait of a dog on a large canvas in an art studio. There are other dog portraits visible on the wall behind her.
A black and gray pencil portrait of a dog with soulful eyes, framed and mounted on a wooden stand, with a white wall in the background.
A woman with long blonde hair wearing a knit beanie and a jacket, smiling and playing with a dog dressed in a quilted coat, in a cozy indoor setting.
A woman with long blonde hair wearing a knit beanie and a paint-splattered jacket kneels on a wooden floor, holding a white dog with a black collar. The woman is smiling at the camera.
A woman with long blonde hair, wearing a knit beanie, squatting indoors, smiling at the camera, with a dog sitting on the floor in front of her. The woman is dressed in casual clothes, and the dog is wearing a quilted jacket.
A person drawing a portrait of a puppy on a wall in an art studio, surrounded by other artwork of dogs.
Instructions on how an artist or photographer collaborates with clients to create custom artwork, including contact details, sending images, selecting sizes, creating quotes, and arranging delivery.
Informational display for pet portrait art. Shows four example portraits of dogs in black-and-white or gray shades, with sizes and descriptions. Top left features a French Bulldog with a bow tie. Top right is a sample wall mount with text about framing options. Bottom left is a puppy with a ball, labeled olly 20x22. Bottom right is a fluffy-coated dog labeled peach 20x24. Additional text explains frame sizes and customization options.
Price list for pet portraits with sizes and prices for single and two pet options, including contact info for custom sizes and frame prices.

Gift options are available and come with a gift card.

Black and white gift card with the text 'A GIFT' overlaid in the center. A brown and white logo of a dog with the words 'SALLY HOLT' is in the bottom right corner.
Gift card with, with spaces for writing a message, artist's name, and sender's name, and contact information at the bottom.

To gift a portrait we can discuss the size and cost prior. I take the deposit in exchange for the gift card and the full amount is then due once I complete to artwork. We can also organise how you would like to supply the reference photographs, whether that be arranging a studio visit with myself and the recipient, or digitally through email. Delivery of the artwork once complete can arranged by courier as per my usual commission process. Please do drop me an email if you have any further questions.

Email me

Reviews

  • A realistic black and gray portrait of a dog, possibly a retriever or setter, with detailed fur and expressive eyes. by Sally Holt

    "Sally has done an amazing job of capturing our dog Tiggy - she’s very talented indeed - we love the picture - it’s become an instant family heirloom loved by all - much like Tiggy! The whole process was super simple - the sharing of a few pics - then Sally has performed her magic. Thank you so much Sally - the Hitt family - Suffolk"

    Richard Hitt

  • A realistic grayscale painting of a dog looking to the left.

    "Delighted with our portrait of our gorgeous Mojo. Sally has captured her beautifully on canvas. Mojo’s character shines. We just love it and enjoyed watching Sally working on it on her instagram. Thank you so much! "

    Caroline Heaney

  • A detailed black and white portrait of a French Bulldog wearing a patterned bow tie, with expressive eyes and a serious expression.

    "Sally did an absolutely amazing job doing a portrait of my partners Frenchie, Cooper. The likeness was second to none and she really captured his character. I would totally recommend."

    Gavin Craggs

  • Drawing of a happy dog with a blue ball in its mouth, sitting against a plain background. By Artist Sally Holt

    "I didn't expect to cry upon collection of the art works but she captured our dogs so beautifully, particularly as Poppy is no longer with us, we truly felt the passion and care that went into the portraits. I cannot recommend Sally enough."

    Haley Goodman