Sophie Parkhill – Award-Wining Wildlife & Pet Portrait Artist | North Wales

Born in 1993 in Rochdale, Sophie Parkhill is a professional wildlife and pet portrait artist now based in Prestatyn, North Wales. After travelling extensively across Europe, Thailand, and Australia, Sophie settled in North Wales with her partner and daughter, where she pursues her passion for realistic acrylic and pastel painting.

Sophie currently serves as the Secretary of the Association of Animal Artists (AAA) and is an active member of ARTNorthWales, The Pastel Guild of Europe, and The Wildlife Art Society International.

Artistic Journey

Art and travel have been lifelong passions for Sophie. She studied art at GCSE and A level before initially choosing a career in Travel and Tourism. Following years of successful work in the industry and extensive travel, including volunteering at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand in 2017, Sophie returned to fine art during a challenging pregnancy, initially as art therapy. This rekindled her commitment to develop her skills, and she transitioned into a full-time professional artist.

Artistic Style and Work

Sophie specialises in highly detailed, realistic paintings using acrylic and pastel, capturing the beauty of endangered wildlife and the unique character of beloved pets. Her artwork balances accuracy with emotional depth, making her pieces sought after by collectors in the UK, Australia, and the US.

Alongside her original paintings, Sophie offers a curated selection of limited edition prints and takes on bespoke pet portrait commissions. Due to her focus on exhibitions and maintaining quality, her commission availability is limited so it's essential to book in as early as possible.

She is proud to be a resident artist at Artworks 2 Celf gallery in Betws-Y-Coed, North Wales, since 2023 and regularly exhibits at the Bay Gallery inside Bay View Shopping Centre, Colwyn Bay.

Conservation and Charity Work

Committed to wildlife conservation, Sophie supports numerous organisations worldwide by donating portions of her sales. These include:

  • Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand

  • British Trust for Ornithology

  • For Tigers

  • Wild Welfare

  • Africa Wildlife Art (Invicta WF/Tsavo Trust)

  • RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds)

  • David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) and many more.

Additionally, Sophie occasionally creates seascape paintings, with proceeds benefiting the RNLI.

Awards and Recognition

Since embarking on her art career, Sophie has earned numerous accolades, including:

  • Represented by Artworks 2 Celf Gallery

  • Honourable Mention Award in "Make Your Mark"- Pastel Society of Southern California

  • Highly Commended Citation - The Wildlife Art Society International

  • 2nd and 3rd Place TWASI Summer - The Wildlife Art Society International

  • 2nd Place, 2024 Pastel 100 (Wildlife Category) – The Pastel Journal

  • Finalist, 2024 South Eastern Pastel Society's “Luminosity” 

  • Finalist, 2024 & 2022 Wildlife 100 - Sketch For Survival (Explorers Against Extinction)

  • Inaugural Chairman’s Award, 2023 – Association of Animal Artists

  • Best In Show Award, 2023 & 2022 – Association of Animal Artists

  • Into The Home Award, 2023 – Association of Animal Artists

  • Runner Up, 2021 – Association of Animal Artists

  • Final 3, Wildlife/Animal Category, SAA Professional Artists of the Year, 2023

  • Winner of several "Get Dusty" Events, 2023, 2024, 2025 - The Pastel Guild of Europe

  • Exhibitor, IAPS 42nd “The Globe,” 2023 - International Association of Pastel Societies

  • Overall Winner, All Women’s International – Light Space & Time, 2022

  • Exhibitor at Mall Galleries, Royal Society of Marine Artists, 2021

  • Exhibitor at Manchester Art Fair 2022, 2023, 2024 - Art North Wales

Publications

Her work has been featured in several prominent publications, including:

  • SAA Paint Magazine

  • Art+Framing Today Magazine

  • Hidden Talents

  • I Love Shelties books

  • The Pastel Journal

  • Scribbler Magazine

  • IAPS The Globe

Contact and Follow Sophie Parkhill

For portfolio viewing, commissions, or purchasing originals and prints, please visit:
🌐 www.spwildlifeart.com
✉️ sophie@spwildlifeart.com (commissions enquiries)

Stay connected via social media:
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/spwildlifeart
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/spwildlifeart

Learn more about Sophie’s gallery presence here:
🎨 Artworks 2 Celf Gallery, Betws-Y-Coed