Gretchen Almy is an accomplished equine and canine portrait artist with collectors across the US.

Her specialty is the ability to capture the animals’ unique personalities in highly detailed graphite portraits and oils. Originally from Connecticut, she spent her summers at the family farm, in Westport, MA. It was there that she took her first riding lessons from her aunt at the age of five. Many years later, what her parents had hoped was just a childhood hobby turned into a lifetime passion and vocation. She continues her love of riding on a ½ lease Dutch Warmblood, “Stradavarius.”

Ms. Almy has managed hunter jumper farms along the East Coast, wrangled horses in Wyoming, and is currently riding Dressage in Middleborough, MA. Having spent most of her life working with and around horses, Ms. Almy has always had an affinity and uncanny connection to the animals she has had the pleasure of knowing. “Portraiture is not about a ‘pretty’ painting of a horse or dog, it’s about capturing the soul of each animal you paint. It’s about combining my infatuation of animals and my artistic talent to give something very special and personal to a client. I’m able to offer more than just a correct photographic rendition in oil or graphite. By working closely with my subjects and their owners, I’m able to create a representation of the horse or dogs’ individual personality and expression. Each piece comes to life on the paper or canvas.” She believes "if you don’t capture the eye, then you don’t capture the true soul of the animal."

Gretchen presenting Gold Medalist Mclain Ward the painting she did of him on Goldika for the Fidelity Investments Jumper Classic, Hampton Falls, NH 2010.

After losing one of her most beloved supporters, her father, she decided to leave her career in product design and explore her lifelong passion of art. “Life is short, I’d rather pursue something I love and receive inspiration on a daily basis. He always encouraged me to follow my passions and for that, I am very grateful.”

Ms. Almy has a BA in Fine Arts from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, VA (now Randolph College) and spent a semester studying art in Florence, Italy. Through her company, Gretchen Almy Designs, with studios located in Plymouth & Westport, she offers more than just portraiture in graphite, oil, and candid photography. She licenses her work, is a freelance logo designer. Her true artistic passion is exploring her own unique style of equestrian art that meshes a bit of abstract expressionism, bright colors, and lively brush strokes to capture the equine form in a way like no other. Her work has been shown locally as well as in Boston and New York.