About Will and Whiskers

Hi, I’m Will - the artist behind Will & Whiskers. My journey with art has been lifelong and has taken me through graphic design, animation, 3D Modelling and texturing, and illustration, winning several awards along the way. Exploring my imagination and bringing life to things seen and imagined has always appealed to me. While I’ve worked extensively in digital media, my passion has led me back to traditional art, I always love exploring different materials, techniques, and styles! Alongside that however has always been an even stronger love for animals.

I grew up in South Africa, where the magnificent abundance of creatures from my backyard to the bush developed my love for nature and animals. There I studied Design and honed my skills. Now, Im working from my mobile studio, a self converted camper van, living a dream of exploring Scotland and the UK with my cat, Thorin.

This business was born from a deeply personal place. When I lost my beloved dog, Grail, I felt an immense void that I carried with me for a long time. It was hard for me to even look at any huskies, let alone his images. Losing a part of your heart is a deeply traumatic experience. But avoidance and bottled pain are never a solution. I've learnt however that we can see more than the pain, and look beyond to find comfort and good memories. Creating his portrait became a way of healing, keeping him with me, offering both reminders of those cherished memories, and much need comfort. Now, I want to share that experience with others - whether it’s commemorating a pet who has passed or celebrating the unique personality of the one still curled up beside you. I want to make things that you love almost as much as you love your animals themselves so that we can appreciate them even more and never lose sight of the joy they bring.

William Ruhlig April 2025

the artist, Will, and his husky dog, Grail, pose for a selfie

Grail and Will

Immortalising your Love

At Will & Whiskers, my goal is to create art that celebrates, heals, and immortalises. Every portrait is a carefully crafted tribute, designed to capture the essence of your pet—not just their likeness, but their spirit and personality. I love looking for details and capturing realism and emphasising unique traits.

Each piece is custom-made, based on your treasured photos and personal stories. I like combining levels of detail with highly detailed features blending with abstract and colourful elements. I believe in pushing creative boundaries, so whether you want a classic realistic pet portrait or something slightly whimsical, I’d love to explore new ideas with you. I love creating, experimenting, and bringing life to blank canvases.

So, while I specialise in traditional pet portraits in acrylic and charcoal, I’m always eager to explore experimental styles—whether through digital painting, 3D and even animation, or even bringing 3D-painted concepts into physical reality. If you have a unique idea, let’s create something extraordinary together.

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Supporting artists

As an artist, it's a struggle to earn an income consistently. There are times where no commissions or sales can come in for months.

If you aren't currently in need of a pet portrait (or have already had one of mine commissioned) or one of my original works or prints, I'd be grateful if you could share me with someone with a pet! It goes so far with word of mouth. Liking posts and following on my instagram, tiktok, or facebook pages is also a huge boost! Thank you to those of you who do!

However, If you are willing and able it would be incredibly helpful to keep myself and my cat, Thorin, fed if you could support me directly on Ko-fi, buy me a coffee? Every little bit helps.