Steve Barker is a professional equestrian, dog and pet portrait artist based in Yorkshire. specialising in highly realistic colour pencil drawings, Steve’s portraits are more than just drawings, they capture the heart and soul of your beloved pet and companion, drawings that will be appreciated for a lifetime.
Each and every pet portrait is a carefully crafted piece of art with meticulous attention to detail, using only the highest quality Faber-Castell polychromos colour pencils on the highest premium Clairefontaine pastelmat board.
a portrait of a beloved pet is a unique and personal piece of artwork, a deeply personal gift that creates a long and lasting memory that you will treasure for many years. Please Click an image to browse my portfolio.
"Steve has been asked to draw six commissions for my family recently. Both are beyond belief and far beyond words. His skill and talent have captured every detail possible, so much so, that you stare mesmerised by the artwork and feel as if you are looking at the real thing frozen in time. A true gentlemen with a great passion for his work and certainly delivers the highest of standards. I would highly recommend Steve to anyone wanting a commission of their pet. Thank you Steve again for the beautiful portraits of our pets. We will certainly be in-touch again for more of your work in the near future!"
"Received an awesome commission of my girls for my birthday highly recommend."
Steve was asked to draw a picture of our dog Ruby for a wedding anniversary present. The final drawing was outstanding. The intricate details that he caught of our lovely Cockapoo were amazing. His work is really out of this world. Thanks again Steve for our lovely drawing of our beautiful dog!
I would just like to say a big thank you Steve I was absolutely stunned when I received this drawing. It’s the spitting image of Milly absolutely gorgeous.
We love it! Thank you so much for the drawing of Roxy.
We are so pleased with this beautiful drawing of Mojo for our Daughter's 21st. Commissioned in my opinion by a truly talented and gifted person. Thank you so much Steve. We all love it especially Helen. We will have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending you.
After finding Steve’s profile online, I reached out to ask if he would draw our three horses as a gift for a family member. It can be a slightly nervous moment entrusting somebody you don’t know to draw your pets, but Steve made the process incredibly easy and we are all delighted with the outcome. The drawing is beautiful and he has captured the spirit of the horses perfectly, working from separate photographs of each one. Would highly recommend.
The drawing of my dog Josie was unbelievable. He captured everything about her, just fantastic. Then, when you meet the artist you immediately see how he’s invested all his skill into that portrait. Pure genius. I would recommend having your pictures framed by Steve. I thought it was good value and finished off perfectly. Thanks Steve, I’ll have my dog forever now.
"There wasn't a dry eye in the house, it captures him perfectly, its absolutely fantastic. Thank you so much for our beautiful drawing of Buster".
OMG! Thank you Steve, that's my Poppy, I'm so grateful, thank you once again.
All drawings are supplied with a cardboard backing board and wrapped in acid free acetate for delivery purposes unless otherwise stated.
approx (A4)
(Head Only)
approx (A3)
approx (A2)
As a professional pet portrait artist, I exclusively use Faber-Castell Polychromos coloured pencils for all my artwork. Widely considered to be among the finest coloured pencils in the world, these premium, oil-based pencils ensure your custom pet portrait remains incredibly vibrant and detailed for a lifetime.
I choose Polychromos specifically for my detailed animal art because they offer unparalleled quality for my clients:
Hyper-Realistic Fur Details: The firm, oil-based core holds a sharp point much longer than standard pencils. This makes them the ultimate choice for rendering the extreme, fine details required to create highly realistic pet fur and bright, lifelike eyes.
Museum-Grade Longevity (Lightfastness): Your pet's portrait is an heirloom investment. Each pencil is individually rated for fade resistance, and the vast majority of the colours I use hold the highest 3-star rating. This means your artwork is highly lightfast and rated to last for over 100 years without fading under museum-grade display conditions. Creating a lasting memory that lasts a lifetime.
Zero "Wax Bloom": Polychromos allow for beautiful, precise colour layering and clean, smudge-free work. Unlike cheaper wax-based pencils, they will never develop "wax bloom"—a cloudy, white haze that can form over time and dull darker colours.
I create all of my pet portraits on Clairefontaine Pastelmat, which is widely considered one of the absolute finest archival surfaces for coloured pencil work.
Unlike traditional papers, it features a unique, velvety cork-coated surface that grips pigment exceptionally well. I always choose this premium material because it allows me to build up many fine, seamless layers of colour without the pigment smudging or fading. This ensures your pet's portrait has incredible depth, vibrant colour, and will stand the test of time.
To secure your booking, simply contact me at enquiries@stevebarkerpetartist.com with your requirements. I require a £50 non-refundable deposit to secure your place in my diary. The remaining balance is only due once your portrait is complete and you are entirely happy with the final result. Payments are securely arranged via bank transfer.
I offer a bespoke framing service should you require your commission to be professionally framed. Please feel free to contact me regarding this option.
(Please note that drawings are mounted in a white mount, frames are black with a wood texture and come ready to hang. The black frame and white mount really enhance the drawing).
Sizes stated are for guidance purposes, if you have another size in mind please feel free to contact me to discuss your requirements.
I do occasionally get asked to draw animals that aren’t usually associated with being pets. If you have another drawing or animal in mind please feel free to contact me to discuss your requirements.
Yes, I offer gift vouchers, please feel free to get in touch to discuss your requirements.