Learn to Paint Beautiful Pet & Wildlife Portraits — Step by Step

Create artwork you’re proud of with downloadable tutorials you can follow at your own pace and keep forever.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to improve your technique, these in-depth tutorials will guide you through my full painting process—from blank page to finished piece.

✔ instant access ✔ Lifetime ownership (no subscription) ✔ Follow along in real time

LEARN FROM ME

What You'll Learn

Each tutorial is designed to help you build real, practical skills you can use in your own artwork.

You’ll learn how to:

Build a painting from the first sketch to final details

Mix colours accurately and confidently

Capture fur, texture, and light realistically

Avoid common mistakes that hold beginners back

Develop a looser, more expressive painting style

Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate. Medium: Acrylic

What You'll Get

Full step-by-step video tutorial

✔ Instant download - no waiting

Reference photo

Materials list

Lifetime access

'Used by beginners and hobby artists worldwide'

All my tutorials are designed to be easy to follow - even if you're a beginner.

Not Sure Where To Start?

If you’re new, I recommend starting with:

There’s nothing quite like finishing a piece and thinking—I actually made that.

Tutorial Bundles

PERFECT FOR LEARNING

Each tutorial builds on the same core techniques—so the more you complete, the more confident you’ll become.

Lifetime access to all content

Save when you learn more.

Get multiple tutorials together at a discounted price and build your skills faster.

Buy 3 tutorials individually: £45
Get all 3 and get 25% off

£15 per tutorial — or save 25% when you buy any 3 or more using code SAVEON3 at checkout.

See What You Can Create

These are the kinds of results you can achieve by following along with the tutorials.

You don’t need to be an expert—just take it step by step, trust the process, and give yourself time to improve. Every piece you see here was built using the same techniques you’ll learn inside the tutorials.

HOW TO PAINT AN ALL BLACK ANIMAL
HOW TO PAINT A GOLDEN RETRIEVER
PET PORTRAIT TUTORIAL
an abstract photo of a curved building with a blue sky in the background

This class Exceeded my expectations!

Recommending for Any Level

Thanks to this class I dared to paint my own boxer dog. I really enjoyed painting Rusty in this class. I recommend this class for everyone that wants to paint a boxer.

Review From - Paint Your Pet From A Photograph

Sara Nyholm

This class Exceeded my expectations!

Recommending for Beginner Levels

I enjoyed this class very much! I hope there will be more! Thank you!!

Review From - Paint Your Pet From A Photograph

Gina Farrell

★★★★★
★★★★★

Student reviews

This class Exceeded my expectations!

Recommending for Any Level

Thank you Alexandra for this great class, I have learnt a great deal on layering and more particularly the use of different blacks and greys to make a cohesive painting that looks very natural. Your teaching style is very good as well. I will definitely explore more of your classes.

Review From - Learn to Paint a Black Labrador

Jennifer Ditchett

★★★★★

This class Exceeded my expectations!

Recommending for Intermediate Levels

I really enjoyed this class and the teacher is very easy to follow and engaging. Excellent quality of video and audio. Recommended!

Review From - Learn to Paint a Black Labrador

Sara Nyholm

★★★★★

Over 700 students have taken my classes - find out what some have to say about them.

★★★★★

This class Exceeded my expectations!

I enjoyed this tutorial. I am a pet portrait artist mainly using soft pastels and pastel pencils. I have also painted with watercolors and gouache. I want to learn how to paint with acrylics and move away from putting so many details in my pieces. Thanks for the great instruction.

Review From - How to Paint a Golden Retriever

Nadine Kelley

Why Learn From Me?

I’m a professional artist specialising in pet and wildlife portraits, and my goal is to make painting feel accessible and enjoyable—not overwhelming.

These tutorials are designed to:

Break things down into simple, manageable steps

Help you actually finish paintings (not get stuck halfway)

Build confidence as well as technique

No fluff—just a clear process you can follow.

Not Ready Yet?

If you’d like to keep learning, I share more tutorials and art business tips in two places.

I teach step-by-step classes on Skillshare covering painting techniques and I also share lots of free videos on YouTube, where I talk about selling your art, marketing your work, and growing a creative business.

If you’d like to go further, these are great places to continue learning. 🎨

Watch Art Business Advice

Head over to my YouTube channel for advice on all things art business.

View Classes on Skillshare

If you don't fancy a one-off tutorial to keep you can get access to all my classes on Skillshare.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of tutorials do you share?
I share tutorials on painting techniques, selling your artwork online and growing an art business.

Do you teach art business topics?
Yes, I regularly share advice on marketing your art, building an audience and selling your work online.

Are your tutorials suitable for beginners?
Yes, many of my tutorials are designed for beginners as well as artists who want to grow their skills.

Where can I watch your tutorials?
I share tutorials on YouTube and teach more in-depth classes on Skillshare.

Free PDF: How to Price & Sell Pet Portraits Online — Proven Strategies for Artists.

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