More and more besotted pet parents are commissioning portraits of their dogs, and with Christmas just around the corner, they can make an ideal gift. Alison Gallagher-Hughes looks at their increasing popularity.

“...pet por traits are at the top of many people’s wish list.”

Portraiture is among the oldest of art forms. In the days before photography, painting or drawing a subject was the only way to record its likeness.

And although today we enjoy the convenience of taking good-quality images on our camera phones, the popularity of portraits is on the rise — with pet portraits at the top of many people’s wish list.

This is in step with how many of us see our pets — cherished companions who sit by our hearth and capture our hearts. Most of us no longer need a working dog — our dog is part of our family.

Whether it’s to celebrate or commemorate a furry family member, deciding to commission a bespoke piece of artwork should be a considered process.

Art appreciation is subjective — what one person loves, another may hate.

Styles vary dramatically and the choice of media — pencils, pastels, watercolour, acrylic or oils, for example — can set the parameters for the artist’s approach, as can their method of application, from bold brush strokes, palette knife, or fingers to the meticulous detail of pen or pencil.

Prices range from £85 to £400 per commission, depending on the size of the portrait, what it encompasses (number of subjects, head, body, or background) and on what it is produced: paper, canvas or even wood or slate.