Celebrate your favourite companion by turning their unique personality into a hand-drawn portrait.
In this relaxed, beginner-friendly workshop, you’ll learn how to create a detailed coloured pencil portrait of your pet, guided step by step by an experienced artist and children’ s book illustrator, Samara Dixon.
Using reference photos, we’ll cover the essentials of drawing animals with confidence; from basic proportions and facial structure to layering colour, building texture, and capturing fur, eyes, and expression.
Coloured pencils are a forgiving and beautiful medium, perfect for creating rich detail without the pressure of paint.
Whether you’re drawing a dog, cat, or another beloved animal, this workshop is designed to support all skill levels. You don’t need prior drawing experience; just a photo of your pet and a willingness to take your time and enjoy the process.
By the end of the session, you’ll have a finished (or nearly finished) portrait and the skills to continue refining your work at home.
What you’ll learn:
How to work from a photo reference
Basic animal proportions and facial structure
Coloured pencil techniques: layering, blending, and burnishing
How to build fur, depth, and expressive details
Tips for capturing personality, not just likeness
What you'll get
Coloured pencils and drawing paper
All tools and materials provided
Guided instruction and demonstrations
A take-home pet portrait or your own making (plus new skills to keep practising)
what to bring
A printed photo of your pet (clear, well-lit, and preferably close-up) – you will be working on an A4 portrait
Optional: multiple reference photos if you’re deciding between poses
Tickets
Be sure to check out our Terms & Conditions before grabbing a ticket.