What do you work from?

  I work from photos, as they keep stiller than most pets! I like to work from two or three photos, a main one for the pose but it helps to have other views of the pet so I can see exact markings or colourings. The better quality photo, the better painting you will end up with. You can e-mail me digital images or post me prints. All pictures will be returned.

How do I take a good photo of my pet?

Try and take photos while your pet is relaxed. It's often nice to have a painting of your pet in a characteristic pose.

Red eye can be removed but is preferably avoided by taking photos in good light. Outdoor light is better for showing highlights on black dogs, and white dogs need some shade so they are not overlit.

Take photos at eye level with the pet or the painting can look distorted and wrong. Using a zoom rather than being very close to the animal mimimises distortion and distracts the pet less.

If you need someone to hold the pet, this is fine as long as I have another photo showing the hidden part of the animal, preferably in a similar pose.

If you want to have a dog prick his ears, try whining at him! A horse will look alert if it hears another horse passing nearby, if you can manage this. And as for cats....they're a law to themselves, sorry!

If you're not sure about photos, please contact me. If your pet has passed and you don't have great photos, I will see what I can do.

                                  What if I don't like the finished picture?

 If you do not wish to purchase the finished picture you are under no obligation. The picture will remain my property. This has never happened yet, however.

                                    How long does a painting take you?

I don't usually keep track of the time spent when I'm painting. Because I rework areas and build up the paint, it works out roughly a square inch of painting per hour. The tiger in Gallery 3 took about 40 hours.