The Artist
Petra was born in the Czech Republic and moved to the UK in 2007 to study English, after initially pursuing a background in Law and Finance. Despite her academic focus, Petra had always been drawn to art, with a passion for drawing that began in her childhood. Early on, she taught herself the intricacies of portraiture using charcoal pencils, honing her skill and developing a keen eye for detail. For over a decade, she focused primarily on commissioned portraits, capturing the likeness and spirit of individuals with striking accuracy.
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In 2020, Petra discovered her deep passion for animal art, which marked a pivotal turning point in her artistic journey. As a self-taught artist, she now specializes in working with coloured pencils and PanPastels, creating artwork on a range of surfaces. Her technique is a blend of meticulous precision and sensitive observation, allowing her to capture not only exceptional fine detail and vibrant colour but also the essence of her subjects. Whether portraying animals or people, Petra’s work is particularly renowned for its lifelike quality and emotional depth. The eyes in her portraits, in particular, convey a remarkable sense of soul and presence, giving each piece a powerful connection with the viewer.
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Petra has been a full-time professional artist since 2023. During this time, her work has been repeatedly selected for prestigious exhibitions, including those held by the Pastel Society, the Society of Graphic Fine Art, the Birmingham Royal Art Society, and the Chelsea Art Society. At the Chelsea Art Society Annual Exhibition in June 2024, she was awarded the Artists & Illustrators Magazine Award for her painting Grace. In 2025, she won Leisure Painter Category Winner at the TALP Open Art Competition for Teddy, The Daydreamer, and received an Honorary Mentionat the Almenara Art Prize in Córdoba for Drinking with Giants, The Adams’ Family.
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Her work has received significant editorial recognition. In 2025, Petra’s art featured on the front cover of The Fieldsport Magazine, accompanied by an interview. She was also featured on the cover of Artist & Illustrators Magazine in 2024, with an in-depth interview about her practice and approach.
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In December 2022, two of Petra’s drawings of Household Cavalry horses won First and Second Prize in the Best International Coloured Pencil Artist category at the Equus Film and Art Festival in Sacramento, California. In October 2023, her drawing Drinking with Giants, The Adams’ Family was published in CP Treasures Vol. 9: Coloured Pencil Masterworks from Around the Globe. Her work appeared again in CP Treasures Vol. 10 (2025) with her drawing of Nico, the Cavalry drum horse — a publication showcasing the work of the world’s top 100 coloured pencil artists.
Petra is continually driven to expand her skills and explore new techniques and disciplines. She draws deep inspiration from fellow artists and from nature itself, fascinated by the way texture, colour, and light interact to create uniquely soulful subjects. She is particularly drawn to capturing fleeting moments in time — images that can never be repeated, only observed, felt, and preserved through her art.​
