Reviewed by a humanOn the market since October 2026
About the shop
Welcome to Michelle Gray Art Studio, where I create bright, bold and colourful original acrylic animal paintings designed to bring a smile to your face! I'm a self-taught artist from Hemel Hempstead, originally from Somerset, where growing up surrounded by wildlife and farm animals helped nurture my lifelong love of animals.
From cheeky pigs and curious cows to characterful dogs and other wonderful creatures, every painting is hand-painted by me using acrylic paints on canvas. I love using vibrant backgrounds and expressive brushstrokes to capture each animal's unique personality.
Each piece is an original work of art, carefully finished, varnished where appropriate, and often framed, ready to bring colour and character to your home. I also create bespoke pet portraits, turning photographs of your beloved companions into unique keepsakes.
I put care and attention into every painting, from the first brushstroke to the final finishing touches. Originals, not prints — because every animal deserves its own little masterpiece!
I offer free UK delivery on my paintings, so you can find something special for yourself or a unique gift for an animal lover.
A note from the maker
My Journey into Art
I’m Michelle Gray, a self-taught artist from Hemel Hempstead, and my journey into becoming an artist has been anything but conventional!
I’ve loved drawing and painting since childhood, although I chose practical, business-focused subjects rather than studying art beyond GCSEs. My early artistic inspiration came from Impressionists such as Monet and Van Gogh, and one of my school paintings of Monet’s Morning on the Seine, near Giverny was even chosen by my headteacher to hang in his office.
After building a career focused on relationships and business, a serious car accident in 2014 changed everything. A severe brain injury left me struggling with skills I’d once taken for granted, including writing and drawing. Slowly, through patience and practice, I began to regain them. In 2021, I painted a vibrant, luminous zebra for an NHS neuropsychology department. It was a meaningful milestone that helped me rediscover my confidence, although it would take a few more years before I truly believed my art could become something more.
That turning point came after my honeymoon, when I painted a peony bush for our newly decorated home. The compliments I received, along with encouragement from my husband, friends and family, helped me realise that my paintings could bring joy to other people too.
Nature and animals are at the heart of everything I create. Originally from Somerset, I grew up surrounded by wildlife and farm animals, nurturing a lifelong fascination with their characters and personalities. I especially love hearing stories about the cheeky and mischievous ones!
I work primarily in acrylics, building up layers of bold colour and expressive brushwork to capture each animal’s individual character. I also love incorporating iridescent and metallic-style paints, adding extra depth and a little unexpected sparkle to my work.
Today, I create vibrant, original animal paintings designed to make people smile and bring a little of the natural world into their homes. My journey has taught me that it’s never too late to rediscover a passion, rebuild confidence and try something new.
Every painting is an opportunity to celebrate the wonderful creatures we share our world with — and I hope my art encourages others to appreciate them as much as I do.
Michelle_Gray
From the shelves
A few pieces. Prices and stock are on the maker's own site.
20 x 20 cm acrylic painting of a Cockatoo on a purple background. White wooden frame included.£39
20 x 20 cm acrylic painting of a ginger pig on a dark cyan background. White wooden frame included.£39
Acrylic painting of a black and white cow with a fluorescent pink background on a 28 × 35 cm box canvas and finished in£79
25 × 30 cm box canvas of a Puffer fish swimming in the sea, framed in a wood-colour floating resin frame.£59