Pet Portrait FAQ’s

Questions & Answers

Thank you for your questions.
Most of your queries will hopefully be answered in this section.
If however, you cannot find the answer to what you are looking for, please contact me with your enquiry using the online contact form or please phone me on 07884 198748

How much does it cost to do a Pet Portrait?

There can be many variables that determine the cost of a pet portrait painting. For example, because I am able to work from poor quality and multiple photographs this may reflect in the cost of your painting
There is also the choice of size and medium, plus the type of background you prefer.
Therefore, please telephone me on: 07884 198748.
You can also email over to me your favourite dog photos with any ideas you might have regarding the portrait you would like and I will get back to you with a quote tailored to your specific request.
Email your Photo’s to us…

If you want a truly professional job, then look no further-
I use only the best quality artists materials from Winsor Newton and Daler Rowney ensuring that your portrait will have long lasting light fastness and the richest depth of colours producing the highest quality Pet Portrait painting.

How long does it take to complete a Pet Portrait Painting.

This depends upon what is required.
From starting a pet portrait to completion, can take about a week to 10 days. More complex compositions take longer.
If you require framing of the portrait, we have our own bespoke framing workshop so all work can usually be completed within that time frame too.
* Please see question on framing below

What Kind of photos do you require?

I work from both digital and printed photographs that either you provide or we can take. Smart phone photos are acceptable. If you can send as many photos as possible via email or if printed copies, by post.
I can work from multiple photos to successfully capture the composition you have in mind. I can take the head of your pet from one photo and the body of your pet from another photo.
Printed photos can be sent to:

Mrs.Penelope Richardson
April House,
4a Top Street,
Exton,
Oakham,
Rutland.
LE15 8BB

When sending printed photos I would recommend  sending them by recorded delivery i.e. Royal Mail Special Delivery.

Do you take photographs to work from?

YES! John is a professional photographer and is happy take photographs of your children or animals to use towards the portrait. In this situation we do not charge for this service, although it is possible to buy individual copies or a disc of the images once the portrait is completed and fully purchased.  
There are two options, to arrange a visit to our studio, or we can discuss the option to arrange to come to your address to take photographs.(Please note, in this instance a nominal fuel charge will be quoted.)  These photographs remain the copyright of ©John Richardson. 

Can you make a group painting from multiple photos?

Most certainly. Any quantity of children or animals can be portrayed on the same painting from different photos.

Can you paint different animals onto the same painting?

YES! Any combination of people, horses, dogs and cats can go together onto a painting.

Can you paint past and present animals together in the same painting?

YES! I have done this many times for customers, the largest painting had 10 dogs on it.

Can you paint a history of one animal from youth to old age on one painting?

YES! This can be great fun too. 

Are you an International artist?

ABSOLUTELY! My paintings have been shipped all over the UK, Europe, North America, the Middle East and the Southern Hemisphere, framed and unframed. When shipping framed watercolours, we use high quality art shield plastic glazing or similar which is highly resistant to shattering & breakage.

Do paintings come framed?

Paintings can come either framed or unframed.
The quotation we send is usually for a painting unmounted and unframed. 

Quality Bespoke Picture framing
We have a wide choice of superb quality, bespoke frames which are hand made in our workshop, these are supplied by the most reputable picture framing manufacturers in the UK.

Bespoke Picture Framing of your paintings, prints & artwork

What is the difference between Gouache watercolour, artist’s watercolour, acrylic and Oils?

Artists Professional Gouache watercolour is a water based paint. It is a heavier pigmented paint than artist watercolour paint, providing an opaque coverage, it can be applied with very little water. Therefore layers can be applied over layers, light over dark, dark over light. Once dry this medium remains open and movable if wetted. I use this medium on professional watercolour board.

Artists Professional watercolours are translucent, they are to be applied in washes and with ‘wet on wet’ techniques. Once dry this medium remains open and movable if wetted. This medium I use on watercolour board or stretched watercolour paper.

Artists professional Acrylic is a water based paint and can be used on either board or canvas. This medium is fast drying, it has a similar feel and look to oil paint but the benefits are that the end product can be achieved more swiftly. Once dry, this medium is not open and not movable. Usually an acrylic painting is varnished and framed without mounting or glass.

Artists Professional Oil is an oil based paint used on canvas, oils are generally slower drying. Once dry this medium is not open and not movable. Usually an oil painting is varnished and framed without mounting or glass.

How do payments work?

Once we have agreed a price for the painting you can pay a deposit by BACS (directly from bank to bank account). Alternatively, we can send an invoice that can be paid by credit or debit card via a secure online gateway.
An initial deposit is required of £50.00 or more.
Cheques are also acceptable written out to Penelope Richardson and posted to:

Mrs.Penelope Richardson
April House,
4a Top Street,
Exton,
Oakham,
Rutland.
LE15 8BB

Can I purchase a voucher towards a portrait as a gift?

YES! You can purchase a voucher for whatever amount you like. Please email us with the amount you would like to pay and what personalisation you would like and we will send you an invoice for that amount. Once payment has been received we will send you the personalised voucher via email.

Will I see an image of my painting before it is posted?

ABSOLUTELY!
Once your pet portrait painting is at a stage for viewing, we will scan and send a proof via email for your approval.
As a result, if alterations are necessary, I will make the adjustments to the painting and send further proofs until your portrait painting is as you like it.

Do you sell prints of the original painting?

ABSOLUTELY!
Limited Edition Prints framed or unframed will be available of your pet portraits. Please ask for prices if interested.
We print on professional quality Velvet Fine Art Paper. Therefore, the prints have the look and feel of the original to share with your family and friends.

Can I use my painting commercially?

Buying an original painting from us does not give you copyright ownership.
The copyright to all original paintings produced by Penny Richardson are the sole ownership of Penny Richardson Fine Art.
If we photograph your dog, the copyright of both the photo/photos and the painting belong to us.
If you supply the photograph then depending on where you sourced the photograph from, will depend on whether you own the copyright of that photograph or not.
We will not reproduce for sale copies of your original portrait painting, unless by pre arranged agreement.
This excludes landscape paintings bought from our gallery where we hold the sole copyright to the original artwork.

Displaying the painting on our website?

Once the painting has been completed and received by the customer we reserve the right to display the artwork in any promotions and on our website.
However, children and people portraits are excluded.
If the customer would not like their painting used this way it is not a problem, we will in most cases respect there wishes.

Who is artist Penny Richardson?

My name is Penelope Richardson formerly Penelope Whadcoat from Northfield Farm, Cold Overton in Leicestershire. I have been married to my husband John for over 30 years and we have five children and one grand child. I have lived in the village of Exton in Rutland since 1989.
To find out more about my ancestral links go to the following:

More about artist Penny Richardson:

Pet Portrait Artist Penny Richardson