Her Majesty Poster

A brown-and-white spaniel sits squarely in a green armchair strewn with blown roses, chin up, entirely unbothered. A pink pleated lamp leans in from the right and the wall behind is a soft, chalky blue-grey. Painted with a loose brush and flat shapes, the portrait is affectionate without tipping into cute, and the rose upholstery does most of the decorative work. Grey, cream and warm brown keep it gentle enough for any room, with the deep green chair giving it an anchor. Hung above a desk or a chest of drawers, it gives a wall personality in a single frame.

A portrait with this much character could work well above a desk or a chest of drawers, where it can be looked at properly. A pale oak frame keeps the chalky, hand-painted surface soft, while black makes the green chair read deeper. Pairs nicely with a rose or burgundy detail somewhere in the room — a cushion, a book spine — picking up the upholstery. Keep the surface below it fairly calm so the dog stays the main event.