My name is Hannah and I’m a pet portrait artist from Ireland.

I have always been and will always be a complete pet lover. Growing up our house was filled with dogs, cats, birds, rabbits. We had them all, and in addition to that there were lots of people! It was a complete mad house! However, it was a home filled with both people and animals, and that meant it was filled with love, fun and excitement. Never a boring moment! 

In 2016 my Mum started a dog boarding and walking business called ‘Barking Mad’ most suited name I think, as we all lived in a small house with about 10 dogs at a time, 3 exchange students, myself and my two sisters, my Mum and my Step Dad! The house was indeed, a ‘Barking Mad’ one.

From a young age, I have always been interested in art and creating things. When I finished school I went on to get a degree in Fine Art from I.A.D.T College in Dunlaoghaire, Dublin. Here I specialized in painting. During my time in college and working part time, in possibly the most boring job of my life (we all know how retail can be)I started to paint the dogs that my Mum was boarding. Her customers became interested in my paintings and I ended up selling a few. 

When I graduated from college, I wanted to travel. I had been to South East Asia before and spending time there definitely gave me itchy feet to go back! I graduated, completed a TEFL course and applied for English teaching jobs in Thailand, China and Vietnam (three places I had been to before and loved). 

I got accepted as an English teacher in Vietnam. I was so excited that I couldn’t think of anything else but Vietnam,  not even my artwork!

I had a plan to work and stay in Hanoi, for one year. Three years later I was still there. I had made a great life there. I had made friends that will last forever, was able to experience a brand new culture while I was working, and of course I fell in love with my best friend and the kindest person I know. It was the best time of my life! 

After three years of teaching very young children that cry, shout and scream, I was getting tired of that life. Greg told me that I always looked exhausted. The days were long and teaching up to twenty-five 2-year-olds in a Montessori school, will do that to you! 

After a holiday on an amazing island called ‘Phu Quoc’ Greg reminded me of why I had went to Vietnam in the first place. It wasn’t to exhaust myself and be stressed out teaching 25 kids at a time, but it was to enjoy the culture, lifestyle and people in that wonderful country, while I was working at something I loved to do. He saw my previous paintings of the dogs my Mum had boarded and suggested I start ‘Pawtasic Pawtraits.

I have to give credit to my Mum for the name ‘Pawtastic Pawtraits’. After her business ‘Barking Mad’ I knew she’d come up with a good one!  

Today Myself, Greg, and our most travelled cat ‘Joben’ are currently living in Mexico. Learning Spanish, eating tacos, and painting pets! It is my best life again. I love painting pets, whether they’re big, small or oddly shaped (like Joben) I love making them come to life on a canvas! 

So if you like my story and would like your very own ‘Pawtastic Pawtrait’, then please get in contact.  I will give you the best ‘Pawtrait’!