Dog Portraits

 

About Me

My name is Amanda Brown and I am an artist who specialises in pet portraiture. I live in the UK in the county of Kent. I receive new painting challenges every week which I enjoy very much and I have created this site so that I can get in touch with the rest of the world.

I began painting when I was very young like most of us, and continued with a keen interest throughout my primary and secondary education. I had to make an awkward decision when I was about thirteen between Music and Art, music being of equal interest to me at the time, as I was only allowed to continue one of them as a GCSE subject. I chose Art and what a good decision!

I completed three A-levels including Art & Design and went on to do a Foundation course at Kent Institute of Art & Design which broadened my knowledge of all types of art. We had a week's trip to Paris where we visited all of the best museums and galleries including Musee Dorsay, The Pompidou Centre and The Louvre. I had my picture taken with The Mona Lisa which I treasure. It was much smaller than I had imagined it and there was a big crowd in front of it.

After my course I applied for a degree in Fine Art. I was accepted but I later I turned it down as I found myself fed up with being a student and decided to get myself a full-time job. However I found that just painting and drawing for myself was not enough for me (beside the fact that I ran out of dogs to draw!), so I have taken the necessary steps to turn myself into a pet portrait artist.

My Studio

I moved into my own house just after the new year in 2008 and have been organising my studio over the last few months (still lots to do though!). It's great having my own space to work and I can leave all my paints out without annoying anyone!

Kent artist studio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toby the dog next to easel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Go to my blog - Diary of a Pet artist

My Pet portrait Newspaper feature

 NEWPet artist Amanda in her Kent Studio

Kent Artist next to a wheelie bin

Note about the photo: Yes, yes... I know there is a wheelie-bin in the background, I will get a new photo soon so there's no need for anymore emails about it Thank you! Oh go on then if you must.

 

 

Newpaper article  Artist Amanda at a dog show

 

Amanda in the snow with her dog Toby

 

My Dog

My family has kept dogs and cats for as long as I can remember, I have had a rabbit, a fish and even a newt! But I have always wanted my own dog. I finally got the chance when I moved out of my parents house last year but Toby was a bit of a surprise! Just after new year, my step-dad's father died and it was a really tough time for my step-dad. To make things worse, his father had left behind an 11 year old westie. My parents could not keep him as he fights with Spanner (their jack russell) and they were reluctant to put him in a dog's home as he had been a one man dog all his life. So I decided to take him on! When I picked him up he was crazy and smelly and very confused about what had happened to his owner. It was quite tough looking after him as he scratched and cried at night (not the best way to make friends with our new neighbours!) But we stuck with each other, and six months later Toby had settled in completely. I really wouldn't be without him now.

Go to my blog - Diary of a Pet artist

 Artist's dog Toby Toby jumping off a rock Toby snoozing by a window Toby by the seaside