Pet Portrait Gift Vouchers
A genuinely personal gift for someone who loves their pet and something they would probably never buy for themselves.
We have been creating pet portrait gift vouchers for many years, and November / December is always our busiest time for them. In fact last December I sent out eight in just two weeks which was some kind of record! They are particularly popular as birthday and Christmas gifts and I love creating them, because unlike a standard gift voucher, each one is completely personalised.
Every card can include your pet's name, the recipient's name, a personal message from you and a photo of the pet or a mockup of how the painting or drawing could look. They are sent as beautiful A4 large sized printed card via Moonpig. Proper cards and they arrive looking like a real gift rather than a piece of paper with a code on it.
If you would like to order one, just get in touch and we will sort everything out together.
Every card is personalised with the recipient's name and their pet
What Makes These Different to an Ordinary Gift Voucher
Most gift vouchers are generic. A piece of card with a value on it that could be from anyone, for anything. Ours are nothing like that.
Each card is made specifically for your recipient. I design it with their name, the occasion, the pet's photo and your personal message. It tells them exactly what they are receiving. A hand drawn pencil portrait or a traditional oil painting by us, Melanie and Nicholas. Created especially for them. By the time they open the card they already know who is going to be drawing or painting their pet and they can start looking forward to the whole process.
These are not mass-produced vouchers. Each card is a one of a kind design made for your recipient. We make them through Moonpig so they arrive as proper printed cards, something beautiful to open.
Christmas and Birthday gift voucher designs
How It Works
It is simpler than you might think. Just get in touch and tell me a little about what you have in mind. The occasion, who it is for, their pet's name and whether you are paying for the full portrait or putting down a deposit. I will take it from there.
There are two simple ways to pay, depending on who the portrait is for. If it is a gift for someone else, you pay for the portrait in full and your recipient just sends us their favourite photo when they are ready. If it is for someone in your own family, a husband, wife or partner who shares the pet with you, you can pay a deposit instead. It is a family gift after all, so you secure it with a deposit now and pay the balance when we start the portrait.
Either way, the card itself arrives beautifully printed and already feels like a real gift before the portrait has even begun.
What I need from you to create the card
- The recipient's name and the occasion (birthday, Christmas, anniversary etc.)
- A photo of their pet to feature on the card — the better the photo the nicer the card
- Your personal message for the card
- Whether to post it to you or direct to the recipient
- Whether you are paying in full or putting down a deposit
That is genuinely all I need. I will confirm the design with you before anything is printed, so you can make sure it is exactly right.
Anniversary Pet Portrait Gift Voucher and a birthday Card Voucher
What Occasions Work Best
The honest answer is almost any occasion where the person has a pet they adore. But these are the ones that come up most often.
- Significant birthdays — 50th, 60th, 70th birthdays are particularly popular. A portrait of a beloved dog or cat is something truly memorable rather than another bottle of wine or box of chocolates.
- Christmas — December is by far our busiest month for vouchers. They are particularly lovely as a surprise gift when you do not want to ask for the pet's photo without giving away what you are planning.
- First paper anniversaries — The traditional first anniversary gift is paper. A pencil portrait on archival paper is rather a beautiful interpretation of that.
- Wedding gifts — For a couple who has a pet together, a portrait of their dog or cat is a deeply personal and lasting gift.
- Retirement — Many retirees have a dog who has been their constant companion through working life. A portrait celebrating that bond is a wonderful gift.
- Memorial gifts — Sometimes a voucher is the kindest option when someone has recently lost a pet and is not yet ready to think about photos or sizes. It gives them time to grieve and come back to the portrait when they feel ready.
- Gifts for people who have everything — This comes up more than you might expect. A portrait is genuinely something that cannot be bought anywhere else.
A Christmas and birthday voucher cards
Prices and What the Voucher Covers
You can gift either the full cost of a specific portrait size and medium, or secure one with a deposit if it is a gift for your own family. Our portrait prices are on our prices and commission information page — the voucher can be for any size or medium you choose.
As a guide, pencil portraits start at £375 for an 8x6 inch drawing and oil paintings start at £1,600 for a 12x10 inch canvas. Life Story portrait montages start at £1,200.
The card itself is included. We cover the cost of the Moonpig card and postage internationally.
Gift vouchers are valid for two years from the date of purchase. This gives the recipient plenty of time. Whether they need to find the perfect photo, work through a difficult time, or simply choose the right moment.
Want to Send a Finished Portrait as a Gift?
A gift voucher works beautifully when you want the recipient to be involved in choosing their portrait. But sometimes you might prefer to simply commission the portrait yourself and have it delivered directly to them — already drawn, already gift wrapped, ready to open.
Our 8x6 inch pencil portraits are our most popular size for gift giving. At £375 they are the most accessible of our portrait sizes, and they arrive beautifully presented in tissue paper, ribbon and an archival presentation box — no additional wrapping needed on your part.
We can ship directly to the recipient anywhere in the world, with a personal note from you included. James commissioned an 8x6 portrait of his mum Dawn's cockapoo Barney as a Christmas gift — from Australia. Dawn's response when it arrived: "No Ikea frame for this work of art."
Find out more on our Small Pet Portrait Gifts page.
Questions About Gift Vouchers
Yes, absolutely. I will always share a preview of the design with you before it is printed and posted, so you can confirm everything looks right. Once approved I can post it directly to the recipient if you prefer — just let me know the address and whether you would like a note included.
That is completely fine. A gift voucher is actually the ideal solution in this situation — it means the recipient can choose their own photo themselves rather than you having to ask for one without giving away the surprise. I can still create a beautiful personalised card using a breed silhouette or simple design rather than a specific photo. Just let me know and we will find the best approach.
Moonpig typically dispatches within one to two working days and posts first class, so UK delivery is usually three to five working days in total. If you need it urgently please let me know and we can look at options. December is our busiest time so it is always worth allowing a little extra time around Christmas.
Our gift vouchers are valid for two years from the date of purchase. This is the most generous validity period offered by any UK pet portrait artist we know of — most are 12 months. We set it at two years because we understand that sometimes a memorial gift needs time, sometimes life gets busy, and sometimes the recipient just wants to wait for the perfect moment. Please note the expiry date will be printed on the card.
Yes. If the portrait is for someone in your own family, so it is really a gift for the whole household, you can secure it with a deposit and pay the balance when I start the portrait. If it is a gift for someone else, we usually ask for the full amount so it arrives as a present that is completely sorted. Either way just let me know when you get in touch and we will arrange it to suit you.
It can be one of the most meaningful gifts imaginable — but timing matters. A voucher is often kinder than commissioning a portrait straight away, because it gives the recipient the freedom to come back to it when they feel ready. Some people want to start immediately; others need weeks or months. The two-year validity means there is no pressure. We have created many memorial portraits that began as gift vouchers, and they are always among the most treasured commissions we complete.
Yes, this is a lovely idea and something we are happy to facilitate. Several family members can each contribute an amount towards a single portrait — perhaps towards a larger oil painting for a parent's retirement or a significant birthday. Just get in touch and let us know what you have in mind and we will coordinate it all for you.
Our pencil portraits start at £375 for a smaller drawing and our oil paintings begin at £1,600. Most people gifting a voucher either cover the full cost of a specific size, or put down a deposit if it is for their own family. If you are not sure what feels right, just ask. We are always happy to chat through the options without any obligation.
