Why my pet portraits are truly unique: A behind-the-scenes look at my custom pet portraits
- Scotty
- Nov 17, 2025
- 3 min read
When you think of a pet portrait, you might picture something traditional: A serious pose, an artistic reproduction of a specific photograph, that kind of thing...
That’s not what I do.
At Scotty’s Cartoons, my portraits are lively, playful, vibrant and full of character. Each portrait is created to capture not just what your dog looks like,- but who they are.
In this behind-the-scenes peek, I’ll show you exactly what makes my custom portraits unique.
I capture personality. Not just features.
Every dog has their “thing”. The unique quirks that make them stand apart from other dogs in their personality. Just like humans, every dog is different, and my portraits celebrate those differences.
Rather than just drawing what I see, I draw the character behind the behaviour.
This is why clients have often said “It’s like you know my dog!” That makes me happy, because that’s always my number one goal.
2. My style blends cartoon charm with real-life accuracy.
I use a warm, clean cartoon style that is:
recognisable without being too exaggerated
detailed enough to feel meaningful
Your dog still looks like your dog, just in my signature style and with their personality shining through.
3. Every dog is drawn completely by hand.
No templates.
No AI filters
For every portrait, I use several reference photographs equally rather than focusing on one photo in particular, and use my imagination for the rest. I draw digitally straight onto the computer, but your dog is entirely hand drawn with no AI involved.
I start with very rough sketches and build it up through layers of detail, colour, shading and highlights.
Even if you order multiple portraits of the same dog, each one will be uniquely one of a kind.
4. I work closely with you before I begin, to get it right. I ask you about:
your dog’s personality
their favourite things
little quirks you love about them
themes you’d like included.
5. You choose the type of portrait, I bring it to life.
You can choose between:
Family portraits (with humans included too)
6. Your portrait is designed to last a lifetime.
Every order comes with a high resolution jpeg which can be used to print your cartoon onto anything you like: mugs, bags, slates, etc. Anything, so long as you keep it for personal and not commercial use. If you opt for a print, the quality is high but you also have the jpeg to print another in the future.
It’s more than a drawing, it’s a keepsake.
7. Every booking supports a small, heart-led business.
When you commission me to draw for you, you’re not just ordering a product. You’re supporting a small business built on creativity and a passion for dogs. I celebrate every dog that I draw, and treat every portrait with care, because I know how much your dog means to you.
In a world full of digital filters and auto generated images, your portrait is hand-crafted with genuine skill, time and heart at Scotty’s Cartoons. My art is sentimental, with a fun twist. It’s made to brighten your home and celebrate the dog that you adore.
If you would like me to create a unique cartoon portrait of your dog, you can explore my styles and options below, or contact me for a no-obligation chat
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