Dogs & Cats
I have always been an avid dog-lover (and to a certain extent, cats too) & I love painting their portraits. Those pictured here, in acrylic or watercolour, are almost all commissions. Most of the animals I have never seen or met, but their owners send me a selection of photos from which I can generally work. They tend to vary from 9x12” to 12x16” which make for easy shipping.
BIGGLES - a dear little Border Terrier, commissioned by a Scottish mother for her son - the dog is sitting on the client's clan tartan. He currently lives in style in Mill Reef, Antigua...Acrylic on canvas board 11x14". 28x35cm
MAX & NELSON Two beautiful Shih Tzus: commissioned in acrylic on canvas board 12x16". 30x40cm
BOOBOO - commission in acrylic on canvas board - lots of lovely texture - 11x14" 28x35cm
ISMAY This is a portrait I did for my long-lost friend Victoria with whom I had a lovely big reunion in France last year - we used to work for the same international organisation. She had a very sweet rescue dog, Flora, with her & I painted her portrait. Unfortunately Flora suddenly passed away shortly afterwards & to appease her loss, Victoria adopted another rescue dog, ISMAY, pictured here. Watercolour 9x12". 31x41cm
GOLDIE Commissioned as a gift to the owner who had to move to Canada from Antigua but couldn't take her beloved dog with her, so her friends got together to make sure she had a good memory to look at. Acrylic on canvas board 11x14". 28x35cm
THE TAIL END This is one of 3 small paintings in acrylic on cradled wood that I did for a friend to hang on a narrow strip of wall in her kitchen. She had these 2 dogs then & this was just a fun angle...6x8" 15x20cm
SCOUT This is the second in the triptych for my friend's kitchen: it is my favourite & captured the dog's character completely. Acrylic on cradled wood 6x8" 15x20cm
STELA was a rescue dog from Hungary & was commissioned by her adoptive parents who wanted her to be painted with her favourite toy. Watercolour 12x16" 30x40cm
MONK An Australian sheep dog as a puppy, commissioned by its owners. Unfortunately this breed was found to have a tendency towards epilepsy & the dog only survived a couple of years - so sad, as she was a magnificent & very friendly pet - generous too! She gave me ticks, but that's another story. Watercolour 12x16" 30x440cm
ME & MY MENAGERIE in my Courtyard, surrounded by some of my watercolour pet portraits before they were shipped to their owners in France & Malta. All 12x16". 30x40cm
MISS KITTY Sadly Miss Kitty died a premature death at the hands (paws?) of a couple of vicious dogs with a pack instinct. Her owner commissioned me to paint her sitting on the balustrade of her verandah, in her usual place, overlooking the bay below. Watercolour 12x16". 30x40cm
SHIP'S CAT CHANA She came to Antigua on board s/vEleda, from Vineyard Haven, a classic yacht that took part in the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta. Such a sweet kitten, I couldn't resist painting her. Acrylic on canvas board 11x14" 40x60cm
ELI. A wedding present for the owners. Apparently captured the cat's character exactly so they were well pleased. Acrylic on canvas board. 11x14". 40x60cm
CHOPPER Commissioned by a friend for this dear little Jack Russell Terrier's owner in memoriam. Apparently the dog would always ride on the dashboard of her car, with his very favourite red rubber toy. Watercolour 12x16" 40x60cm
DEXTER Paws crossed, his natural position. A very enjoyable commission to paint in watercolour 12x16". 40x60cm
LENNON This was a great success - the owners were delighted & the drips completed the composition perfectly: such a joyful little dog. 12x16". 40x60cm
ZACH I cannot for the life of me remember what breed of dog this was - certainly spectacular with that special hair in the ears &markings on the face. I painted it for a couple who came on holiday here in Antigua - they sent me the photos in advance & were delighted with the result when I delivered it to their hotel. Acrylic on canvas board 12x16" 30x40cm
JEWELS & JACK Commissioned by a friend who had been staying with the owner at Cinnamon Ridge (Mill Reef, Antigua). Watercolour on Bristol board 8x10" 20x25cm
WOOKY Commissioned by one friend Dee for another, owner of Wooky. Watercolour 8x10". 20x25cm
TALLA A stray dog that turned up one day at my friend Clare's house. My birthday present to her (pet portraits make wonderful gifts). Acrylic on canvas board 11x14". 28x35cm
STELLA is the subject of a special Easter gift (see the Easter egg she is playing with) commissioned by Bettina for Buzz's owner. Watercolour on Bristol board 8x10". 15x25cm
LOONIE A gift to my niece who rescued this lovely affectionate dog from a fate worse than death from an ummentionable country known for its cruelty to dogs. Watercolour 11x14". 28x35cm
MONK This is the adult version of the Australian Sheep Dog, much beloved by my brother who was obliged to put her down after she suffered from the most painful epileptic fits - apparently well-known in this breed. But her memory lives on. Watercolour 11x14" 28x35cm
CHARLIE Commissioned by my son in Malta as a wedding present for their good friends who adored their dog. Watercolour 12x16' 30x40cm
ZIGGY A constant companion to my daughter-in-law when she lived with her parents, painted "in memoriam". Watercolour 12x16" 30x40cm
ZOE A companion to Ziggy. Watercolour 12x16" 30x40cm
GNASHER He is getting really old now (13) & was rescued by my son from where he was abandoned as a puppy half a mile away. My son has moved away to Malta so Gnasher lives with us, sorely in need of a hip replacement & blind in one eye - but his lovely character remains untouched (as does his appetite!). Watercolour 12x16". 30x40cm
DINKY I cannot remember the name of this breed, but my clients were delighted with this portrait of such a joyful little dog. Acrylic on canvas board 11x14" 28x35cm
SUMO Such a big, gentle dog. Commissioned by my friend Christina. Watercolour 12x16". 30x40cm
TOUGH, TOBY & SAMMY A considerable challenge to paint all 3 together, as the photos supplied were of each individual dog with little indication of relative size... but I managed & thoroughly enjoyed presenting the owners with the finished piece which they loved (especially as one of the three had already crossed the Rainbow Bridge so the painting was doubly poignant). Acrylic on canvas board 12x16" 30x40cm
BUBBA This was painted in memory of Bubba, adored by my friend Carrie. Acrylic on canvas 8x10". 20x25cm
LOLA A gorgeous Russian Weimaraner with piercing blue eyes - commissioned as a gift from friend Kal to the owner. Watercolour 12x16". 30x40cm
BANJO Rescued from the street here in Antigua in a dreadful condition with half an ear hanging off. He was adopted by my neighbour Jillabean who organised very successful surgical treatment & has been living very happily with her ever since. A very happy story.. Watercolour 12x16" 30x40cm
HENRY the giant poodle among his beloved hydrangeas. Commissioned by my friend Carrie as a gift for one of her clients. Black dogs are notoriously difficult to paint, but the photo suppled to me had enough contract to facilitate my job considerably. Acrylic on canvas panel 11x14" 28x35cm (The client was thrilled! And her neighbour was so impressed, she commissioned me to paint a portrait of her 2 Shih-Tzus...)
GINGER My own Shih-Tzu, now 14, needing a hip replacement & half blind but still able to bark like hell. His portrait (before he was groomed) is behind him. Acrylic on canvas board 11x14". 28x35cm
LOUIS A great photo produced a great watercolour. Commissioned by my friend Carrie for her brother. 12x16". 30x40cm
THEO & RUBY Very difficult to do as the photos I was given either did not show all of a dog, or the perspective was wrong or, most importantly, relative sizes were not at all evident. But I guesstimated a lot & it seems I did OK as the owners were very pleased. Acrylic on canvas board 11x14". 28x35cm
BUBBA WITH MISS KITTY Both of Carrie's pets shown here have crossed the Rainbow Bridge but this portrait is particularly poignant for her - such a lovely happy, tender moment. Watercolour 12x16". 30x40cm
MISHKA A Siamese cat belonging to my friend Renata, Mishra's eyes reflect the Caribbean Sea with the Hibiscus completing the composition. Watercolour 12x16". 30x40cm
MIDNIGHT This dear little black cat belonged to my daughter when she was much younger. This painting features one of the many lizards that abound here in the Caribbean, with the azure sea in the background and hand-made clay pots with a design typical of the island of Antigua.Watercolour 12x16". 30x40cm
MINOU Life in the Caribbean can be exhausting! "Cat with local pot"....Watercolour a 12x16" 30x40cm
BRANDY Our other rescue dog. Now 12, she is still just as nervous, with her own special character, but so special & seemingly as healthy & bouncy as she ever was. Acrylic on Canvas board 12x16". 30x40cm
ROXY This dear, happy little dog belonged to my daughter & is painted in her memory. Acrylic on canvas board 12x16" 30x40cm
I cannot remember the names of these 3 splendid Rottweilers - the painting was commissioned by my friend Monica for her husband who, she claimed, loved the dogs more than her! It was a particular challenge as I had to work from separate photos of each dogs I wasn't absolutely sure of relative sizes but I did manage to capture the heart & should of each - according to the husband! Watercolour 12x16". 30x40cm
LUCIFER my fellow-Grannie commissioned me to paint her daughter Kimberley's 4 pets on 10x10" (25x25cm) cradled wood from various photos Kim sent me. This is the first - the one cat. Acrylic on cradled wood, varnished with sealed sides.
GHOST The second in the series for Kim, in acrylic on cradled wood, varnished, sealed sides & ready to hang 10x10". 25x25cm
LUCIFER, ROCKY, GHOST & POPPER Each 10x10" (25x25cm) in acrylic on cradled wood, ready to hang
MOOSE & NACHO - two very special cats living in a high rise Toronto, commissioned by friend Kal for her sister. I put together the composition from a series of photos & I think the finished product is very well balance - & the spitting images of their subjects! Watercolour 12x16". 30x40cm
LARA A beautiful cat & beloved pet of a friend's daughter who was devastated when Lara was run over. It took a long time for her to recover & before she could even bear to look at this portrait, commissioned by her father. A painting can never replace the living being but can at least provide happy memories. Acrylic on board 11x14". 28x35cm
POX My brother's rescue dog (from Reunion where they treat dogs cruelly & horribly). He somehow delights in choosing weird names for all his pets, almost to annoy people in a delightfully perverse way. Pox has also been the subject of a series of cartoons involving her name in plays on words eg Small Pox (a tiny dog) Cow Pox (dog standing on a cow) etc I have also painted her on a coffee cup...This now is a watercolour 12x16" 30x40cm
BUSBY commissioned by my friend Imo for her father who doted on Busby. Watercolour 12x16" 30x40cm
BLACKY & FLUFF Commissioned by my friend Maiwenn for the owner of the 2 cats. The original photo showed them simply looking out of a window. I thought that changing the focus of their eyes & adding a small bird completed the composition perfectly. The owner agreed... Acrylic on canvas board 11x14"28x35cm
CANE This magnificent Mastiff mix was born here in Antigua but moved to Florida with his owners who not surprisingly did not want to leave him here. Watercolour 12x16" 30x40cm
BOON A totally dumb but utterly adorable chocolate lab - formerly owned by my brother who now has this very life-like reminder of her. Acrylic on canvas board 16x20" 41x51cm
LIBBY-LOU This dog was a favourite of Heather-Lee, the daughter of a friend. She was heart-broken when Libby-Lou died & friend Carrie commissioned me to do this painting which apparently had Heather-Lee in joyful tears. Watercolour 12x16"
SAMMY & FRANKY These 2 little lively Jack Russell terriers live in Bangkok, Thailand with 4 other Jack Russells - a breed obviously adored by their owners. Watercolour 12x16". 30x40cm
SADIE was one of my friend Carrie's rescue dogs here in Antigua (she has adopted about 10 dogs & as many cats - I can't keep count! A real sucker for strays...). Acrylic on canvas board 11x14" 28x35cm
GUINNESS I found this poor dog lying just off the beaten track with one front leg broken & the bone sticking out. Long story short, I befriended him slowly, got him to a vet, had the leg successfully amputated & his health restored with shiny fur & a wet nose - & my friend Carrie adopted him. He still remembers me whenever I visit - such a wonderful, gentle companion to Carrie he has turned out to be. Watercolour 12x16" 30x440cm
LUCY & PEARL Commissioned by my friend Carrie (she has given me a lot of work!) for her brother. I love the black & white contrasts - it takes a little sorting out to see where one dog ends & the other begins... Watercolour 12x16" 30x40cm
LUCY on her fur rug....Acrylic on canvas panel 8x10" 20x25cm
JUNIOR One of Carrie's favourite cats: she asked me to paint him after his untimely death. He currently hangs in her kitchen, looking down at everyone with his usual disdainful expression...Acrylic on canvas board 11x14" 28x35cm
JANICE is a retired greyhound, adopted by my friend Vicky's sister & which Vicky gifted her as a birthday present. Acrylic on canvas board 11x14". 28x35cm
NELSON & MAX IN THE TROPICS! I posted the original painting earlier (also acrylic on canvas panel 12 x16") with a grey background. The owners decided that they wanted to hang the portrait in their house in Antigua, so asked me to change the rather dull surrounding to something more colourful & lush, & this is the result! The owners were delighted.
ISMAY Another rescue dog I painted for a friend who had recently lost her first recuse dog Flora. Watercoloour 9x12" 23x30cm
KAHLUA was commissioned by the sister of the owner of this dear departed dog as a lasting souvenir. Acrylic on Canvas 12x16
ATTICUS & FIG JAM are two Antiguan dogs rescued by my friend Dee who took them back with her to California. They also feature in my very popular book The Cool Caribbean Cookery Book to which Dee, chef & event organiser, has contributed a delicious recipe. Watercolour 9x12". 23x30cm