Here at Dignity, we understand how difficult the loss of a much-loved pet can be. Pets aren’t just animals, they’re companions, confidants, and members of the family. When they leave us, they leave a space that feels impossible to fill. That’s why we’re passionate about helping families find meaningful ways to remember them—through ashes, keepsakes, ceremonies, and sometimes, through pet portraits.
As part of our ongoing commitment to support local businesses who share our values, we’d like to introduce you to a truly special person: Carol Frances, a local artist creating beautiful, heartfelt pet portraits for grieving families.
The start of the journey
Carol lives just outside Basingstoke in Chineham, where she works from her home studio. While she’s spent most of her career in human resources and interior design, it wasn’t until retiring in 2022 that she rediscovered a childhood love for drawing. With more time on her hands and a desire to do something creative, Carol picked up a paintbrush and started experimenting.
“I used to spend all my spare time drawing as a child,” she says. “When I stopped working, I thought I’d try painting again. I started with botanicals, but they didn’t really take off.”
It was a simple but honest comment from her son that nudged her in a new direction. “Maybe what you’re doing isn’t what people want,” he suggested. So she gave something else a go—painting a neighbour’s gorgeous, fluffy ginger cat. That experiment proved trickier than expected. Watercolour didn’t quite capture the texture of fur the way she hoped. Following some research, she discovered coloured pencils and set about teaching herself how they could best be used to draw animals.
But just as she was considering what to do next, she stumbled across a Bonny Snowdon live drawing session showing how to draw a robin using coloured pencils. “It was December, right before Christmas, and I thought it would be a nice distraction. From that moment on, I was hooked.”
From robins to ponies, and eventually to dogs and cats, Carol began building a portfolio of work—and a following. When her niece received a hand-drawn portrait of her pony for her 21st birthday, it caught the eye of someone who would become her first memorial portrait client; a woman who had lost her dog a couple of years previously but wanted to gift her parents a memorial portrait for their new house. The photo chosen had particular meaning as Charlie was carrying a bag of Haribo rings which had a special connection with her sister’s wedding day. Since then, word of mouth has grown, and so has the depth of
meaning behind each piece.
Finding her way in pet portraits
Many of Carol’s commissions are now from families wanting to remember pets who have passed away. These aren’t just pictures, they are portraits of love and memory. And Carol approaches each one with care and responsibility.
“I feel a real duty when I’m asked to draw a memorial portrait,” she explains. “Like many people, I know what it’s like to lose a pet—how much it hurts. I’ve experienced both sudden loss and the slow, expected kind. Either way, the grief hits just as hard.”
Carol begins every portrait with the eyes. “It’s a bit of a cliché,” she admits, “but the eyes really are the window to the soul. When I’m drawing, I often see that unconditional love reflected in the photos people send me. It’s incredibly moving.”
From the choice of reference photo to the finest whisker or feather detail, Carol’s work is rooted in connection. She doesn’t just aim to create a likeness, she strives to capture personality, presence, and essence. It’s not unusual for her clients to become emotional when they see the finished result.
Bringing memorials to life
At Dignity, we’ve always believed that memorials should feel personal. They should speak to your relationship with your pet, and they should offer comfort during one of the most difficult times in life. Carol’s portraits do exactly that.
We also believe in community, and that means lifting up local businesses who care as deeply as we do. Carol’s work is a beautiful extension of what we try to offer: peace of mind, heartfelt remembrance, and dignity for every pet.
If you’re looking for a way to honour your pet’s memory, or you want to gift something meaningful to a friend or family member navigating grief, a portrait by Carol could be the perfect tribute. Her artwork is not only technically accomplished but emotionally resonant—each one is a celebration of the love we carry for our pets long after they’re gone.
You can find Carol on Instagram at @carol_frances_art or Facebook at Carol Frances Art, where she shares her latest pieces and takes commissions. Her page is full of beautifully captured animals—from scruffy terriers and gentle-eyed spaniels to sleek felines and cheeky ponies. There’s something comforting in scrolling through her work, even if you’re not ready to commission a portrait just yet. Her website is also there for those wishing to contact Carol to learn more about commissioning a portrait or for those who are looking for greetings cards or gallery pieces.
We’re proud to support Carol and artists like her who help families heal through creativity. It’s one more way Dignity continues to care, long after the final goodbye.
Because when a pet leaves this world, the love stays behind. And sometimes, with the help of a pencil and a kind heart, that love can be brought back to life—on paper, and in memory.