What a pet portrait costs
Pet portraits are priced like any portrait, by medium and size, but a single animal is often simpler than a person, so prices start a little lower:
- Digital pet portrait: roughly AED 120 to AED 350.
- Watercolour or pencil: roughly AED 250 to AED 600.
- Acrylic or oil on canvas: AED 450 upwards; more for two animals or a large canvas.
On Trove's Services Marketplace, pet portraits start from AED 300, with the final price confirmed by the artist once the size is agreed.
The photo makes the painting
With animals this matters even more than with people. The best reference photos:
- Are taken at the animal's eye level, not from above.
- Use daylight, ideally near a window or outside in the shade, never a flash (it flattens fur and gives the eyes a glow).
- Are sharp on the eyes. If the eyes are in focus, the artist can work with the rest.
- Show the animal's own expression: the head tilt, the half-open mouth, the ears.
Send three or four, and tell the artist which one is most like them. Old photos of pets who have passed are welcome; artists work from them often, and will tell you honestly if a photo is too small to paint from.
Timing
Allow two to four weeks for a painted portrait and a week or less for digital. December fills up early with gifts, so book in November if it is for the festive season.
How booking works
Send a booking request from the service page with your photos, the size you have in mind and any date. The artist confirms the date and final price, you pay by card through Trove or directly with the artist, and your phone number is shared only once the booking is secured. The Services Terms set out the rest.
Memorial portraits
Many requests are for animals who have died. Artists treat these with care. If you have only one usable photo, say so; a good artist can still work from it, and will tell you what they can and cannot promise.
Pet portraits as gifts
If the portrait is a surprise, send the photos yourself and ask the artist to keep the owner out of the loop. For the day itself, most artists will send a photo of the painting in progress or a small card to open while the canvas dries.
Looking for something else handmade? See our guide to handmade gifts in Dubai, or browse the Services Marketplace for commissions, workshops and more in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.