Let me introduce you to Bella, our cheeky, funny, lovable, scruffy little mutt – and the star of this collection.

Bella has a big personality packed into her scruffy frame. She's curious, full of mischief, always up to something, and completely adored by us. It only felt right to start painting her – and what began as a simple portrait from the heart has turned into something far more special.

That very first painting of Bella turned out to be a lucky one – it was selected for the Society of Women Artists 164th Annual Exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London this year (2025). I still can’t quite believe it! That little portrait, painted with love in my studio, went on to hang on the walls of a gallery I’ve admired for years.

Since then, I’ve painted Bella a few more times – I just can’t resist her expressive little face and the way she carries herself like she owns the place. Luckily for me, my husband Steve is always snapping photos of her on our walks, in the garden, or curled up in her favourite spot – and it’s from these everyday moments that I find my inspiration. Sometimes she’s caught mid-bark, other times mid-nap – but always just Bella being Bella.