Clare Parkes

Clare Parkes is a wildlife and pet portrait artist based in Hertfordshire, England, working predominantly in pastel. From an early age, Clare Parkes showed a deep connection to art, spending much of childhood meticulously copying illustrations from Disney books and encyclopaedias. Art was the one subject that consistently inspired her at school, leading to a degree in Fine Art. During her studies, her practice centred on large-scale contemporary oil paintings, work that contrasts strongly with their current, highly detailed approach.

After graduating, Parkes began working within the art sector, where a growing appreciation for precision, realism, and fine detail began to shape her artistic direction. This evolution fully emerged in 2018, during maternity leave, when they discovered pastel pencils after being inspired by the wildlife artists they encountered on Instagram.

Since then, drawing has become both a meditative practice and a means of expression. Combining a lifelong love of animals with exceptional technical skill, Clare creates highly detailed wildlife portraits that invite quiet contemplation. Through countless delicate pencil strokes, each piece seeks to forge an intimate connection between viewer and subject, offering a close encounter with creatures that may otherwise remain distant or unseen. Clare's work celebrates the diversity and beauty of wildlife, capturing subtle textures, colours, and patterns to reveal the individuality and character of each animal.