In August 2015, a friend was getting married. She had a house crammed with lovely things and so, rather than buy more ‘stuff’, I surreptitiously photographed her divine rescue whippet, Dulcie, and drew some pencil sketches for her. She seemed very pleased! I put the pictures on Facebook and the rest, as they say, is history.

So, I am untrained, unqualified and a complete novice! However, the commissions I have undertaken seem to have been a success to date. What I have discovered is that the photograph from which I work has to be top quality with plenty of detail, not blurred and with a good light in the animal’s eyes and fur. (My drawings are very detailed, so the quality of the photo is all important!)

I would be delighted to undertake commissions.

I work in pencil (on white paper) or pastel on acid-free tinted paper. The picture will be roughly A3 in size, landscape or portrait depending on the photo, head and shoulders only, unless otherwise agreed in advance.  Alternatively, I can do multiple heads on larger paper or indeed a whole animal – to be discussed if you would like this.

Please email me for a current price for a drawing.

I will probably also charge for visiting to take photographs – The price for this is by agreement in advance.

If you think you have a photograph of suitable quality, then I would need to see it before agreeing to draw the animal. However, this photograph MUST be taken by you, or you must have permission from the owner/creator of the photograph to use it for this purpose, i.e. it should be free from all copyright conditions: I cannot use another photographer’s work for money, obviously.

You can find more example os my work on Instagram where I am @ronxmackinnon

Here are some comments from happy customers….

“How absolutely stunning!! It is better than I ever could have imagined and you have captured him so well – thank you!” TA Berkshire 

“Oh wow, brilliant, fantastic, wonderful, super, lovely, amazing, couldn’t be better!! I just could not be more thrilled Veronica – thank you so, so much!” MP, Gloucestershire

“I thought you would like to see the finished [framed] result!  It looks lovely and is taking pride of place above the sofa in the sitting room.” JJC, Hampshire

“I think I’m going to cry they are so lovely”  JL, Wiltshire

“OH MY GOD!!  They are absolutely fantastic!!!” JF, Wiltshire

“Thank you so very much for the gorgeous drawing you have done of our jack russell …. The likeness is very good indeed you have caught her perfectly. It looks just like the way she looks at you.  What a special natural talent you have….”  KK, Wiltshire

“I am really genuinely thrilled with the picture.  It captures him perfectly and I shall treasure it always.  I almost got quite emotional when I unwrapped it but managed to maintain the stiff upper lip…!” AW, Hampshire

“Oh my goodness – those are so fantastic! Thank you!” HM, Hampshire

“OMG!… its BRILLIANT.  You have SO caught his look and especially that look in his eye, honestly – he looks exactly like that.  Thank you” FM, Wales

“Oh Veronica they are lovely! So wonderful of you to do it so quickly….” SC, Wiltshire

“I thought you would like to know that my sister opened her present of [Dog’s] portrait on Friday and she was absolutely DELIGHTED with it.  Actually there aren’t really words to say how overwhelmed she was – suffice to say tears were shed!  She was especially thrilled because she felt you had captured him so brilliantly and it could only be [Dog].  Mum was so happy because she was so happy and all in all it was the GREATEST success.  Thank you so much for doing such a brilliant job and getting him so right….” KH Hampshire

“Just a word to say that your lovely drawing has been framed, presented and very much appreciated by both [dog] & my husband for his 70th birthday last Sunday.  And, needless to add, the rest of the family are equally in awe of your talents. All in all a great success. Thank you so much!”  PM, Isle of Wight

“LOVE LOVE LOVE the pics of my girls, you are soooooooo clever, the detail you put in is mind blowing, the eyes are amazing.” MEF, Wiltshire

“IT’S BLOODY INCREDIBLE!!! I wouldn’t have believed it could have got any better, but looking at it in person and seeing the colours – Absolutely amazing!” TR, Melbourne, Australia

 

In 2019 I was asked to draw some animals for use on a series of ‘Treasures of India’  coins for the East India Company.  The first coin (Tiger) was minted in silver and sold out very successfully.  Subsequently, the EIC have had it struck in gold and the peacock is in production.   I also drew an image for a new St George and the Dragon coin.   The coins are then designed by Nick Martin.  Here are some images.