HORSE & PET PORTRAITS

Bespoke portraits of your beloved pet

Realistic acrylic horse portrait by artist Carolyn Nikolai Ontario
Realistic acrylic cat portrait by artist Carolyn Nikolai Ontario
Realistic acrylic dog portrait by artist Carolyn Nikolai Ontario

Carolyn Nikolai Illustrations creates high-end bespoke portraits tailored toward discerning horse, dog and cat lovers.

From classic portraits and traditional full body equine paintings for the modern equestrian, to memorial portraits of your beloved pet, each piece is crafted with exquisite detail. Working with either professional-grade acrylic paint on gallery-wrapped canvas or graphite on archival paper, Carolyn captures each animal’s essence with realistic precision. Born from a lifelong passion for horses and refined through formal training, her portraits are enjoyed by many and can be found in private collections worldwide. 

Contact the artist to schedule a personal consultation. A limited number of commissions are accepted each year. Please enquire for the current wait list time and to secure your place.

Realistic graphite horse portraits by artist Carolyn Nikolai Ontario
Portrait photo of Carolyn Nikolai and her horse Burberry K

Photo by Liberty Shots

About the artist

A native Montrealer, Carolyn attended Sheridan College in Toronto where she studied illustration. Focusing on children’s book illustration, she developed her own distinctive style. Upon graduation, she received the Clark Book Award – presented for outstanding achievement – from fellow alumni Brenda Clark, illustrator of the Franklin the Turtle series. She has also been recognized by Applied Arts Magazine for her illustration work.

Her passion for horses has long since been a driving force behind her art. Going full circle, back to her love of drawing animals as a child, Carolyn added custom horse, dog, and cat portraits to her repertoire.

An avid equestrian, she currently resides in Ontario and competes on the hunter/jumper circuit with her horse, Burberry K.


AWARDS | Applied Arts Magazine, Applied Arts Photography & Illustration Award Annual | Clark Book Award, Brenda Clark and Sheridan College PRESS | CBC Arts