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Meet the Artist: Exploring My Creative Journey

Welcome! My name is Laura, and I'm a professional artist living and working in Ireland.  Artist's Bio

As a dedicated dog owner of a Golden Retriever, Rix, who has been my muse, model, and companion for many years, my approach to dog portraiture is deeply personal. The very first paintings I created were portraits and sketches of my own dog a long time ago, and that connection has significantly shaped my artistic journey.

Beyond capturing a dog's visual likeness, I delve into its character, drawing on my love of dogs and interest in their unique traits and breed features. Rather than simply replicating a photograph, my goal is to enhance each dog's character and accentuate the features that reflect their individuality. With my classical training in traditional painting, I focus not only on physical likeness but also on overall color harmony.

About My Work
I create highly detailed dog portraits and dedicate many hours to each piece, believing that in the animal portraiture genre, details really matter. My ultra-realistic style is rooted in tradition rather than trends, honoring these remarkable animals and giving them the presence they deserve.

"For us, dogs are just a part of our life, but for them, we are their whole life"

  • Client testimonials

    "We are absolutely thrilled with Laura’s portrait of me with our late doggie Timber. She caught a terrific likeness of both of us and added a magic that wasn’t in the original photograph. Highly recommended!"

    Brendan

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    "Thank you so much for such a fantastic picture of Bo and Dot, it is absolutely amazing…. Such talent and you have captured them beautifully… thank you so so much." Sarah

  • News

    Thrilled and excited to have my work 'Artem' accepted into the 194th RHA annual exhibition which will open on Monday 20 May and show until Sunday 4 August, 2024.

  • The Irish Dog Portraiture exhibition From November 7th to 13th, MadraArt proudly hosted a personal exhibition at Bewley’s on Grafton Street, Dublin. This unique collection featured 12 artworks celebrating Ireland’s native dog breeds—portraits of each of the nine breeds, along with a group portrait uniting them all. The event was highlighted by guest speaker David Blake Knox, author of The Curious History of Irish Dogs. This exhibition was a significant milestone in my journey, blending art and storytelling to honor the legacy of Ireland’s beloved dogs.

  • Art Source Participation

    I was delighted to participate in Art Source at the RDS, one of the largest art fairs in Europe. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with a wide range of visitors and share the Irish Dog Portraiture collection, along with important information about Ireland’s native dog breeds. Many people weren’t familiar with these breeds, and I was happy to help them discover the unique history behind them, especially since six of them are currently at risk of extinction. I was thrilled to receive such positive feedback and immense interest in both my artwork and the story behind these remarkable dogs.

  • I’m happy to share my newly designed art catalogs featuring the Irish Dog Portraiture series. This project has been created with love and gratitude to all the wonderful dog companions who have inspired these paintings. Inside, you'll find the stories behind the  portraits, glimpses into my artistic process, and some personal reflections that emerged while working on the collection.

    The catalogs will be available for sale soon and I hope they bring joy to both art and dog lovers.


  • Insights

    "Some of our greatest historical and artistic treasures we place with curators in museums; others we take for walks."—Roger Caras

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"Everyone thinks they have the best dog. And none of them are wrong." — W.R. Purche.

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