Why Should You Choose Me for Your Pet or Horse Portrait?
It's a question I have heard many times over the years, and one that I have even asked myself. Had you asked me this in 2021 or 2022, I would probably have given you a vague answer because I didn't hold much confidence in myself or my work. I felt a huge amount of imposter syndrome, something that carried on for many years and, if I'm honest, still creeps in from time to time today.
When you look for an artist to draw your horse, dog, cat or another beloved animal, you are often met with hundreds of talented artists in Facebook groups, with prices ranging from incredibly affordable to thousands of pounds. It can become a real challenge to find the right person, someone whose work you love and who you feel you can connect with.
You see, you aren't just commissioning a drawing of a dog or horse. You are commissioning a portrait of a family member, something created to last beyond their lifetime. You are preserving a memory so that every time you look at it, you remember when the photograph was taken, what was happening at the time, the smells, the sounds and everything else that made that moment special. This isn't just a snapshot. It's a fixed memory, captured in pencil, that you can cherish for the rest of your life and beyond. For many of us, our animals are some of the most important relationships we will ever have, and their portraits deserve to be treated with that same level of care.
Choosing the right artist for your pet portrait or horse drawing is important, and I want to tell you a little more about me, how I got here and why creating these pieces means so much to me.
From zookeeper to award-winning animal portrait artist
Drawing for me has always been an escape from reality, but it became a place of safety when I was six weeks postpartum, in lockdown with a brand-new baby. My husband and I hadn't been around many children before becoming parents, so we had no idea what we were doing. At the time, all the services we had expected to rely on had simply dropped away, and we no longer had the help and support we needed. So, one day in 2020, I picked up a pencil and began drawing a horse. I had absolutely no idea that this small decision would change the direction of my life, taking me away from my career as a zookeeper, something I had dreamed of doing since I was a little girl, and towards creating realistic animal portraits for people all over the world.
I began with horses, drawing them in all sorts of settings and slowly developing my skills. Within five months, I was creating artwork at a much more professional level and began offering my drawings to customers at very low prices. Looking back, those early customers certainly got themselves a bargain! When I officially launched Rachael Robinson Art in 2021, the response was incredible. By the middle of February, I was fully booked for the entire year. I was drawing constantly, with artwork leaving my home every week, often working whenever my daughter slept. It allowed me to build a career around being a mum and to be present in her life while doing something I loved.
In 2022, I was shortlisted for and went on to win Equine Service of the Year at the Equestrian Business Awards. Even now, that achievement still blows my mind. I received more than 80 nominations from people around the world, with customers sharing their experiences of working with me, the process of commissioning their artwork and what their drawings meant to them. What stayed with me most wasn't simply receiving an award. It was hearing how much these drawings meant to the people who had commissioned them. They understood how much I cared about their animals and how much I loved creating their portraits. That has always been at the heart of my business, and it is something I have never wanted to lose.
Why understanding animals matters when drawing your pet or horse
Before I became an artist, I spent years working as a zookeeper. Animals have always been a huge part of my life, and my understanding of them goes far beyond what I can see in a photograph.
When I draw an animal, I'm looking at so much more than the outline of their body or the colour of their coat. I'm looking at their individual markings, the way their fur or feathers sit, the shape of their eyes, the details around their nose and mouth, and all those little quirks that make them recognisable to the people who love them. Every animal is different. Two horses might have similar coats, and two black cats might look almost identical at first glance, but the smallest details are what make them themselves. Capturing those details is one of the things I love most about creating realistic pet portraits.
My work is created using traditional drawing techniques, with graphite and coloured pencils. Building up a realistic drawing takes time, patience and many layers of pencil. Black fur, for example, isn't simply a case of picking up a black pencil and filling in the space. There can be blues, greys, browns, purples and subtle changes in tone that bring the coat to life. The same applies to horses, dogs, cats and wildlife. The more closely you look, the more you discover, and those details are what help transform a drawing from a general likeness into a portrait that feels unmistakably like your own animal. Having spent so much of my life around animals, I understand that their personalities are just as important as their appearance. I want the finished drawing to be something you recognise immediately, something that makes you smile because it captures the animal you know and love.
Every pet portrait has a story behind it
One of the things I have learnt over the years is that I rarely know the full story behind an animal when I first receive a commission. Sometimes it's a young horse someone has just bought, a much loved family dog, a cat who has been part of someone's life for years, or an animal who is sadly no longer here. Whatever the reason, I know that there is usually a story behind the photograph, and I never take that lightly.
One horse I have drawn several times over the years became particularly special to me. When he passed away, I was absolutely devastated for his owners. I knew how much he meant to them, and I had an original drawing I had previously created of him. Without making a big announcement or even saying anything beforehand, I simply sent the original artwork back to them. I knew that he needed to go home, rather than be sold elsewhere. For me, there was never really a decision to make. It was where that drawing belonged. When I later announced that my now husband and I were getting married, his owner sent me one of his shoes. I can honestly say it is one of the most treasured gifts I have ever received. That gesture meant so much to me because it showed that the connection we had built through her horse and my artwork went both ways. I had been able to give something back to her, and she had given me something that I will always treasure.
It is moments like these that remind me why I do what I do. The animals I draw might belong to my customers, but over time, some of them become a little part of my life, too.
What makes my realistic pencil drawings different?
I know there are many talented animal portrait artists out there, and I would never suggest that other artists don't care about their work or their customers. There are many different styles, approaches and price points, and choosing an artist is a personal decision. What I can tell you is what you will receive when you commission a drawing from me. You aren't handing your money over to someone who will spend a few minutes on a piece and move on to the next one. You are commissioning a detailed, traditional pencil drawing that takes hours of work, concentration and patience to complete.
I study your reference photograph carefully, paying attention to the details that make your animal unique. I work through the drawing gradually, building up the textures, tones, colours and markings until the portrait comes together. Every stage matters, and rushing that process simply isn't how I work. I also want to create something I would be proud to display in my own home or take to an event to showcase my work. I have spent years developing my skills, learning how to capture the realism I am known for and building a business around the standard of artwork I want to produce. When your drawing is finished, it is carefully prepared and packaged so that it can make its journey to you safely. I know how exciting it is to receive a piece of artwork, particularly when it features an animal you love, and I want the experience to reflect the care that has gone into creating it. You will have a little piece of my heart and soul in that drawing, because I genuinely care about the work I produce and the people who receive it.
Why I haven't increased my animal portrait prices in years
Something else worth mentioning is that my prices have remained the same for several years, despite the experience I have gained, the recognition I have received and the time I put into my drawings. When I first began, I was still learning how to value my work and understand what running an art business involved. Like many artists starting out, I charged prices that reflected where I was at the time, rather than the experience and skills I would go on to develop. Since then, I have built an established business, worked with customers around the world and continued to refine my approach to realistic animal drawing. My artwork has grown alongside me, but I haven't increased my prices in line with that journey for quite some time.
I know commissioning an original pet portrait is an investment, and I want people to understand what goes into creating one. These are not mass-produced prints or digitally generated images. Each commission is individually drawn by hand, with the time and attention needed to capture the animal in front of me. I want my customers to feel that they are receiving something genuinely special, and I take great pride in creating artwork that can be enjoyed for years to come.
Commission a realistic pet or horse portrait by Rachael Robinson Art
For me, it has never been just about drawing an animal and sending it off to a customer. It is about creating something that means something to someone. It might be a portrait of a horse who has been with you through some of the most important years of your life, a dog who has grown up alongside your children, a cat who has always been there when you needed them, a gift for a friend or a much loved companion whose memory you want to keep close. I know how much these animals mean to us because I have spent my life around them, and I have seen first-hand how deep that connection can be. Being able to turn those memories into a traditional pencil drawing is something I feel incredibly lucky to do.
When you commission a portrait from me, you are not simply buying a drawing. You are choosing someone to spend hours studying the details of an animal who matters to you, someone who understands that those little markings, expressions and quirks are what make them who they are. I want you to look at your finished portrait and see your animal looking back at you. I want you to remember the moments you shared, the things they did that made you laugh and all the reasons they hold such a special place in your heart.
That is why I continue to do this, and why I will never stop caring about the work I create. If you are looking for a realistic pet portrait, a bespoke horse drawing or a personalised pencil drawing of your beloved animal, I would love for you to explore my commission options. You can find out more about my animal portrait commissions, see examples of my graphite and coloured pencil artwork, and discover how to commission your own drawing right here.
Because your animals are never just animals. They are family, and their stories deserve to be remembered.
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