Let's be honest: the internet is absolutely heaving with cat and dog portraits. Lovely, of course. But what if your best friend has scales, feathers, fins or a nose that never, ever stops wiggling?
If you share your home with a budgie who critiques your singing, a gecko who stares into your soul, or a guinea pig who screams with joy every time the fridge opens, this one's for you.
Why we adore our unusual pets
Exotic pet parents are a special breed (pun fully intended). You know that your bearded dragon has a favourite basking spot and a favourite person. You know your parrot's mood by the angle of his head feathers.
These little characters are every bit as much family as any spaniel. The trouble is, when you go looking for an artist to capture them, it can feel like nobody's quite sure what to do with a leopard gecko. Plenty of pet artists stick to cats and dogs, and the realistic portrait route doesn't always show off the personality that made you fall in love in the first place.
Feathers, scales, fins and fluff: all welcome
Our illustrator, Super Cute Granny, is delighted by unusual creatures. She happily draws:
- Birds – parrots, budgies, cockatiels, lovebirds, chickens with attitude
- Reptiles – geckos, bearded dragons, snakes, tortoises
- Small furries – guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, rats, gerbils
- Fish – that betta with the dramatic fins, or the goldfish who's outlived three goldfish bowls
- …and anything else you happen to love. If it has a face (or something like one), let's chat.
Her style is quirky, playful and proudly non-realistic. Think a hamster wearing a tiny crown because he rules the house, or a bearded dragon lounging like a sunbather on holiday. It's less "museum oil painting", more "the portrait your pet would commission of themselves".
Like this little guy, napping under his basking lamps.
Same cat, wilder idea: one real cat became a piggy bank. Imagine what Granny could do with your gecko.
How it works
It's refreshingly simple:
- Send 1–3 clear photos. Good light and a clear view of your pet's face and markings help enormously. Blurry action shots of a zooming guinea pig are adorable, but tricky to work from.
- Tell us about their personality. This is the fun bit. Does your cockatiel whistle the theme from EastEnders? Does your gecko refuse to eat anything but one specific brand of cricket? Pop those quirks into your brief. They're what make each piece truly them.
- Granny gets drawing. She creates a one-of-a-kind, playful custom pet illustration based on your photos and notes.
- Your portrait arrives digitally.
From photo to portrait: a very fluffy poodle, Granny-style.
Printing at home
Because it's a digital pet portrait, you can print it yourself whenever you like. Our top tip: use matte photo paper or thick art paper for a lovely, gallery-ish finish without glare.
Your personal-use licence covers printing for yourself and for gifts, so feel free to turn your portrait into stickers, keychains, mugs, a phone wallpaper. The only thing it doesn't cover is resale, so please don't sell copies.
Memorial portraits, made with love
Many small and exotic pets have shorter lives than we'd like, and losing them can hurt in a way other people don't always understand. If you'd like to remember a pet who's passed, Granny would be honoured to draw them. Share your favourite photos and memories, and we'll create something gentle, joyful and full of the character you miss.
Quick FAQ
Can you really do an exotic pet portrait of my snake / axolotl / tarantula? Very likely, yes! Exotic pet portraits are one of our favourite things to draw. Send clear photos and we'll make it happen.
I'd love a custom bird portrait, but my parrot never sits still. Will that work? Absolutely. Send your best 1–3 photos (even if they're not perfect) and tell us about his personality. A playful style is very forgiving of a bird who refuses to pose.
Is a gecko portrait or reptile portrait different from a guinea pig portrait? Not in how you order! Every digital pet portrait follows the same steps: photos, personality notes, and a custom pet illustration delivered straight to you.
Ready? Order your Custom Pet Illustration and tell us all about your wonderful creature.
🦎 Calling all exotic pet parents! 🦜
We'd love to draw your bird, gecko, guinea pig, fish (or other marvellous creature) next.
Join Granny's email list and you'll get a free phone wallpaper plus a 20% welcome code for any custom illustration. It's for the first 5 orders only, so don't dawdle!
Here's to the scaly, the feathery and the gloriously fluffy!