The Gallery

Visit www.flickr.com/photos/villagerhelen for lots of examples of past pet portraits

Please ring me on 01629 732638 to discuss any requirements - each painting is totally individual to suit the style of the photograph, to suit the image of your beautiful beloved pet and to suit YOU!

The prices are just a guide and anything can be arranged to suit your pocket. If you have more than 2 pets I can add them to the same painting free of charge.

CREDIT CRUNCH SPECIAL OFFER:

10 x 8" COLOUR PAINTING £125 (head & shoulders only) Extra pet £85 on seperate canvas - this size is too small to fit more than one pet.

ONE ANIMAL IN COLOUR:

SMALL 11 X 14" £295

MEDIUM 16 X 12" £395

LARGE 20 X 16" £495

I can go as large as you like, which we can discuss and I'll quote for you.

TWO OR MORE ANIMALS ON SAME PAGE

MEDIUM 16 X 12" £495

LARGE 22 X 16" £595

Email contact throughout the process for you to see an update of the painting is available and any input is welcomed along the way - it's YOUR painting of YOUR pet so just ring me or email as I go along. I post on www.flickr.com/photos/villagerhelen daily - go have a look- and I'll inform you when I'm starting on yours so you can see progress every day. Ultimately, if you don't like it - you don't pay for it - simple as that! (although this has never happened in over 12 years I'm pleased to boast)

I require as many photographs as you can possibly get for me- sometimes it's not a situation where I can actually meet the subject I'm painting, although you are quite welcome to bring your dog to the shop if it's possible? (no horses, ducks or especially cats though - my springer spaniel Jasmine, may object, quite vocally, if you do) Photographs depicting all the moods and mannerisms are vital to get the best out of the portrait and help me connect with your little character.

Think about the actual pose you would like painting and try to capture this for me. I do need you to be eye to eye with your pet as you take the photograph - I can't paint the top of it's head if you want your pets face painting, if you see what I mean! I can only paint what I can see. No red eye please. The character and soul of your pet is all in the eyes and I have to have the best detail you can get for me. An outside shot of the fur is also welcomed as colours can be distorted inside under artificial light.

I also appreciate it's difficult getting hold of good photos pre the digital era! If you have a member of your pet family who died a while ago, this is also usually no problem- just bring in or post me the photos you have, and I'll soon be able to tell you if it's possible to paint anything from them for you (all photos are returned in the condition you send them to me - they are precious memories and I look after them like gold dust)

Mostly I can scan them into my computer and digitally manipulate into a photo that's large enough to use but I'll let you know immediately if it's not possible. I never attempt to paint anything if it's not going to capture YOUR pet.

Ideally you will be able to bring me the perfect photograph but as this rarely happens (they do tend to move about don't they??) don't worry. I can usually pick a head off one photo, a background off another, a body off another .....

And if you want 2 or more pets put together in one painting - again, don't even bother about catching them together for one photograph - especially cats - I totally understand - they just KNOW you want to get that purr - fect shot don't they? You think you've got it and then, at the last minute, they turn haughtily around!

Please ring me on 01629 732638 at the Gallery anytime or leave a message and I'll get back to you usually the same day.