One of my favourite memories of Jack. He spent many afternoons asleep on my lap while I worked, convinced every drawing session was better with a dog attached to the artist. He spent countless afternoons keeping me company while I drew, usually asleep on my lap and completely unaware of how much I loved having him there. 🐾
A Few Fun Facts About Me
🐾 Bears are my favourite animal to draw.
🐾 My inspiration folder contains far more reference photos than I could ever draw in one lifetime:)
🐾 I rarely work without at least one dog nearby.
🐾 I can spend hours looking at wildlife photos and calling it "research." My favourite pastime:)
🐾 I love listening to audio books while I draw; I usually have at least two different ones on the go… all depending on what I am feeling like listening too.
Welcome to My drawing desk
Hi, I'm Nancy
Welcome to my little corner of the world.
Most days you'll find me at my drawing desk with a pencil in one hand and a dog on my lap. Actually, let's be honest... sometimes two dogs. Add a few coloured pencils scattered across the desk, family stopping by for a chat, and the occasional puppy demanding attention, and you've got a pretty accurate picture of my workspace.
It's a little chaotic. It's full of love. And in many ways, that's exactly what inspires my art.
I'm a coloured pencil artist who specializes in drawing animals. From beloved pets to wildlife, I'm always looking for the moments that reveal something about who they are. The happy grin of a dog. The curious look of a cat. A mother bear watching over her cub. The quiet connection between two animals that says more than words ever could. I've loved animals for as long as I can remember. They're part of some of my happiest memories, and I've always been drawn to the way they communicate without words. A look, a playful expression, a quiet moment between a mother and her baby. Those are the moments that catch my attention and make me want to draw.
While I draw all kinds of animals, wildlife is what I find myself most drawn to. Bears have completely stolen my heart, but my inspiration folder is full of everything from tigers and elephants to otters and penguins.
When I sit down to create a portrait, I'm not just looking at fur colour or markings. I'm looking for the things that make that animal recognizable to the people who love them.
The expression they always had. The look they gave when they were happy. The way they carried themselves. The details that make someone look at the finished piece and say, "That's them."
What I Believe
🐾 Animals become part of our families.
🐾 The little details are often the most important ones.
🐾 Art can help us hold onto moments we never want to forget.
🐾 A portrait should feel like the animal, not just look like them.
Whether I'm drawing a beloved pet or a wildlife piece, my goal is always the same: to create artwork that captures personality, expression, and the moments that make animals memorable. I want people to look at a portrait and immediately recognize what made that animal special; what made that animal unforgettable
If you're here because you have a pet you'd love to see on paper, or because you share my love of wildlife, I'm glad you found your way here.
Thank you for being here. It truly means a lot.
Now, if you'll excuse me, there's probably a dog waiting for my lap and a drawing waiting on my desk. 🐾
I want people to look at a portrait and say, "That's them."
That’s what matters most to me.
If you've made it this far, we probably have something in common, a love of animals. If you'd like to chat about a portrait, I'd love to hear from you.
A pretty accurate snapshot of my studio life: Anabelle on my shoulder, the rest on their beds on the floor around me, coloured pencils on the desk, and a few drawings in the background wondering when I'm finally going to finish them. 🐾