Custom Watercolour Pet Portraits

Our pets are family.

I create beautiful custom watercolour pet portraits that capture the personality and spirit of your pet — not just what they look like in a photo.

When I paint a portrait I spend time connecting with your pet. I study your pet’s eyes, their expression and the small details that make them uniquely them. My goal is to create a beautiful hand‑painted artwork that reflects the love and connection you share with them.

A custom pet portrait also makes for a unique and meaningful gift to a pet parent in your life.

Because each portrait is painted by hand, I take a limited number of commissions each month to ensure every piece receives the care and attention it deserves.

Custom pet portrait of a red and white Australian Shepherd in watercolour, painted from a client photo.

From Photo to Beautiful Custom Watercolour Pet Portrait

Maggie

Reference Photo

Custom watercolour dog portrait of a Blue Roan Cocker Spaniel , painted from a client photo.

Maggie

Watercolour Pet Portrait

Winnie & Emily

Reference Photo

Custom watercolour dog portrait of a white toy poodle and apricot cavoodle , painted from a client photo.

Winne & Emily

Watercolour Pet Portrait

Portrait Sizes & Pricing

Each custom pet portrait is hand-painted with love in watercolour from your chosen photo, capturing the unique personality and spirit of your pet. Whether you’re celebrating a beloved companion, remembering one who has passed, or commissioning a meaningful gift for someone special, each portrait is created with care and intention.

When I paint, my aim is to create a beautiful artwork that feels like a painting — not something to be mistaken for a photograph. You’ll see delicate layers of watercolour, visible brushstrokes and subtle imperfections, all of which bring the piece to life.

I offer two standard sizes — Standard and Large — designed to suit different spaces while maintaining a beautiful level of detail.

Each portrait is created using high-quality materials and a soft, expressive style, resulting in a timeless piece you can treasure for years to come. All portraits are hand-painted from my studio in central Victoria, Australia.

Custom Watercolour Pet Portrait of fawn mixed staffie mixed breed dog.

Standard Size A4 (unframed)

$400AUD

Suitable for one pet, head & shoulders.

The paper size is slightly bigger than A4 so that your painting fits beautifully within a frame with an A4 opening.

Handpainted custom Watercolour Pet Portrait, Jack Russell and Fox Terrier.

Large A3 (unframed)

$500AUD 1 Pet | $650AUD 2 Pets

Suitable for 1 or 2 pets or full body

The paper size is slightly bigger than A3 so that your painting fits beautifully within a frame with an A3 opening.

Watercolour Pet Portrait of Great Dane Mixed Breed Dog.

Custom Size

Please get in touch if you are after a larger piece e.g. with multiple pets and will give you a quote.

Postage

Australia: $12 AUD

New Zealand: $20AUD

Worldwide: Quote on booking

Note: if you live in or around Castlemaine VIC, you are welcome to collect the portrait in person.

Framing: I don't typically offer framing due to the cost of shipping and potential for damage, but I am happy to give you framing advice and recommendations.

How to Book Your Portait

Step by Step Guide

1. Choose Your Photo

Start by choosing a high quality photo of your pet that captures their personality — one that feels like them - and that shows their features clearly i.e. I can see their eyes and colouring. See guide (below) for taking or selecting a photo here.

2. Complete the Booking Form

Once you’re ready, simply complete the Pet Portrait Booking Form.

You’ll be able to:

select your portrait size
attach your reference photo
provide a few details about your pet
advise of any deadline e.g. a birthday, which I will do my best to accomodate

3. Booking Confirmation & Deposit

After receiving your booking, I’ll confirm availability and send you a booking confirmation.

To secure your portrait in my schedule, a deposit of $100AUD is required. Once the deposit is received, your commission is officially locked in.

4. Creating Your Portrait

Once your booking is confirmed, I will paint your portrait using professional watercolours on high-quality watercolour paper.

Portraits typically take around 3–4 weeks to complete. I will confirm the turnaround time upon confirmation.

5. Finishing & Delivery

When your portrait is finished, I will email you with a photo of the completed painting.
Once you are happy with the artwork, we arrange final payment and postage, and your portrait is carefully packaged and sent to you.

Payment can be made by bank transfer, credit card or PayPal.

Ready to Book a Portrait?

Book Your Portrait Here

Any questions? email me: aimee@aimeeblack.com.au

Pet portrait artist Aimee Black holding a framed custom watercolour dog portrait of a red and white Australian Shepherd.

Good and bad reference photo examples to help choose and take a good reference photo for your pet portrait.

Photo Guide - Choosing the Best Image

Choosing the right photo helps me capture your pet’s personality as accurately as possible and makes for the best painting. Here are a few simple tips to help you choose a great reference image.

Clear, natural lighting

Photos taken in natural daylight usually work best. Try to avoid very dark images or strong shadows across your pet’s face.

Eyes visible

The eyes are one of the most important parts of a portrait, so it’s helpful if they are clearly visible in the photo. Side on photos are fine and long as one of the eyes can be seen clearly.

Eye-level photos

Photos taken at your pet’s eye level create the most engaging portraits. Try to avoid photos where your pet is looking up or down at the camera.

Choose a photo that captures an expression you connect with.

The most important thing is choosing a photo that captures your pet’s personality — something that feels like them to you. The best paintings capture an expression that you connect with, for example the way their eyes light up when they see a ball (rather than a sad or sleepy expression).

If Your Pet Has Passed Away

Sometimes when a pet has passed, the photos we have are older or not perfect. Please don’t worry about that — I can often still work with them.

Feel free to send through a few photos that you love and I’ll help you choose the one that will work best for the portrait.

Book Here

Pet Memorial Portraits

For many people, portraits are created to remember a beloved animal who has passed away.

I understand how deeply animals become part of our lives, and memorial portraits are created with great care and respect for the animal being remembered.

A note from Aimee

As someone who has loved animals deeply — and experienced the heartbreak of losing them — I understand how meaningful and senstive these portraits can be.

It’s always a privilege to be trusted to paint an animal who means so much to someone.