Back in the summer of 2022 a good friend of mine adopted a dog called Bruno. Bruno is an American Bulldog. He is the height of a Labrador and built like a Staffie, so it’s not exactly a small undertaking welcoming a dog like him into your home.
American Bulldogs are confident, sensitive, loyal, extremely friendly and have a fun loving nature. He is a remarkable dog, and we are eternally grateful to Help 4 Hounds who matched Bruno and my friend so perfectly.
My friend and I share Bruno so he is always with his people, and I am often found out walking him around beautiful Cornwall. Although his walks mostly entail him joyously greeting every person he can find. He has an ever growing fan base and he is a great ambassador both for big dogs and for rescues.
Helping Help 4 Hounds
Help 4 Hounds is a small non-profit organisation based here in the South West which rehomes dogs through it’s network of foster homes across the UK. They went above and beyond to make the process as smooth as possible, and the foster family who were caring for Bruno so beautifully have been amazing too. Everyone at Help 4 Hounds is so dedicated to their work, and it was wonderful working with them throughout the adoption process.
Although I would take on all the dogs that needed a safe home if I could, that clearly is not realistic. So instead I support the superb work of Help 4 Hounds through my art. Once I decided upon this project I set about learning how to sketch in charcoal with the aim of fundraising through dog portraits.
It was quite the process as drawing quickly was rather alien to me. It took me some time to develop a style of my own and to feel confident that I can be more loose in my mark making and still get a true likeness.
Practice makes perfect
It was exciting to learn a new creative skill, and as with anything I will keep learning for as long as I am drawing. I have been advised countless times over the years to ‘loosen up’ in my art, though I always maintain that we should each draw however we want to. I will always return to detailed work, but now really enjoy sketching more freely too. It is a particular kind of challenge capturing a likeness and the personality of a dog in charcoal.
Your very own pet portrait
Do you have a handsome hound or pretty pooch that you would love a portrait of? Or perhaps you are looking for that perfect present for a loved one and you know that their dog is everything to them? If so, and you have a good photograph, then commission an original charcoal sketch and help raise vital funds to help find loving homes for even more dogs in need.
These original artworks are A5 size (15 x 21cm) and are £45 inc P&P within the UK.
£20 from the sale of each portrait will be donated in your dog’s name to Help 4 Hounds. You will be making a real difference to these dogs lives, supporting their veterinary care, and helping them find to homes where they can live happily ever after.
Money raised so far
I am delighted to be able to say that this fundraising project has been met with great interest, and I have been commissioned to draw many dog portraits through it. I am having the best time surrounded by all these beautiful pooches. Thanks to the wonderful support of such brilliant dog owners, as of Autumn 2025 I have raised over £600 for Help 4 Hounds, and this is just the beginning.
You can view an album on my Facebook page which contains all of the dog sketches I have drawn.
Help 4 Hounds have a Facebook page where you can find information about all the dogs who are currently looking for fostering or adoption, or if you prefer you can email them on helpforhounds992@gmail.com or call 07516 279583
