VANESSA CHARLOTTE ART

There’s something magical about capturing the essence of a beloved pet in a portrait. It’s like bottling up their personality, their quirks, and that unmistakable sparkle in their eyes. But let’s be honest - the idea of commissioning pet portraits from photos can feel a bit daunting. Where do you start? How do you choose the right artist? And what if your furry friend just won’t sit still for a proper photo? Fear not, I’ve been down this road, and I’m here to share everything

Which watercolour paper should you use? A professional artist explains wood pulp vs 100% cotton paper, how water absorption affects technique, and why paper matters more than paint.

Student vs professional watercolour paint compared by a professional artist, focusing on lightfastness, permanence, and when student grade is good enough.

In this guide to the best watercolour brushes for pet portraits I'll give you my honest review of brushes I've used and owned. I have a jar full now of all sorts of brushes I've accumulated over the years, but I have a few favourites that I reach for every time.

I grew up in Birmingham, but here I am in Worcester still living in the same house we bought 28 years ago. At this point, the house and I are basically the same age emotionally. These walls know all our secrets. Within them we’ve lived out all our little (and not-so-little) life dramas: becoming parents, losing parents, losing jobs, starting new ones, and generally muddling our way through adulthood. Two adults somehow became three adults and a steady stream of furry companio