Animal and pet portrait artist Sara Smith recently gave up her full time job as a civil servant to turn her passion for animals and the natural world into a thriving local business creating portraits of  her clients pets.

Even before giving up her day job Sara had undertaken a few commissions for friends to draw their pets. Initially working with them to develop the idea for the portrait then using her artistic talent to deliver on the vision.

Sara splits her time between commissions (usually for people’s pets), and her own original work (focusing on wildlife). Of her unque style she says,

“I work in pencil, and I love capturing the ‘soul’ of my subject - I want to get across the character of the subject, and for me the eyes are one of the most important ways of doing that. I have had my work called photo-realism by others, as I am very much all about drawing the fine details!

“My goal is to be one of the top wildlife and animal artists in the UK! I greatly admire artists such as Gary Hodges and the late, great David Shepherd. I also love the expressive style of Jo Taylor. I have always loved art, and my favourite painting was, and probably still is, the portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer by Gustav Klimt. Very very different to what I draw! But I love the use of gold, texture and pattern, and how you are drawn in to the face of the subject. I think that is where my love of portraiture really started!”

Sara has been fortunate enough to work with a lot of great clients and feels tremendously honored to be able to create a lasting memorial to someone’s furry best friend. A couple of her recent favorite commissions are: the portrait of a cow completed as a 90th birthday surprise gift and “Sir Walter” a very aristocratic looking cat, whose owner wanted him drawn in costume! 

To purchase prints & cards or find out how Sara’s artistry can immortalise your pet see: www.sarasmithart.com/shop

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