Meet the artist
Hi, I’m Fiona Kertesz, a Kāpiti Coast artist creating realistic custom pet portraits and wildlife artwork in both oil paintings and charcoal drawings.
From much-loved pets to wildlife from New Zealand and around the world, I create detailed, expressive artwork that celebrates the animals we love.
To find out more about my story, click below.
Custom Pet Portraits
I’ve been oil painting and hand drawing pet portraits for many years now, and the love for immortalising these beloved pets continues to grow.
As a pet owner myself, I know just how much joy, purpose and unconditional love these babies bring to our lives - and how profound that loss is when they leave us.
Seeing the joy my clients feel when they receive their portraits is incredibly rewarding. Whether it’s celebrating the bond they share with their pet, creating a meaningful gift, or keeping the memory of a much-loved pet alive through a memorial portrait, each commission has its own meaning. Being able to play a part in those moments, and in their healing journey when they’ve lost a beloved pet is something I truly cherish.
If you’re interested in commissioning a portrait, whether for yourself or as a gift, I offer two styles: ready to hang colour oil paintings on stretched canvas and mounted charcoal drawings on fine art paper. I work with you throughout the process, from finding the right photo and creating the initial mock-up, through to sending progress photos and completing your finished artwork.
Each portrait comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and care instructions, and is gift wrapped and securely packaged for courier. Shipping is free within New Zealand.
If you would like to know more about the commission process, pricing, testimonials and photography tips, this is under my Commission a Portrait tab, or head to my galleries. If you have any questions, please get in touch, and follow me on social media for news and updates.
Abby
Oil painting pet portraits are hand painted layer by layer, with each one adding detail and light - resulting in a lovely, 3 dimensional painting that has such presence and life.
Oil Painting
Charcoal DrawingShadow
Charcoal drawing pet portraits combine both softness and detail, resulting in a beautiful lifelike portrait, with a lovely soft feel in the fur you can almost touch.
The Gentle Hunter, ruru/morepork - Beneath the Feathers series
Original Charcoal Drawing
My Wildlife Artwork
Wildlife artwork is a newer area for me and gives me the opportunity to not only draw and paint our cherished pets, but also celebrate the wonderful wildlife we have, both here in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world.
I have a love for creating series, putting a lot of time into researching and selecting references, bringing them together and developing each artwork with a particular vision in mind. I’m drawn to that balance of beauty, power and quirkiness, creating pieces that complement each other while also standing strong on their own.
I currently have three series underway:
Beneath the Feathers — native Aotearoa New Zealand charcoal bird series, almost complete
Where Power Rests — oil-painted big cat series, two more to go
Wild Kin — oil-painted Kaimanawa horses, just beginning
You can explore the series, with original artworks and limited-edition prints available. I also take wildlife commissions if you have something special in mind.