Why Custom Family Portraits Make the Most Meaningful Gift You’ll Ever Give
There’s something truly magical about seeing yourself and the people (and pets!) you love drawn together in one picture — not a photo, but a fully hand-drawn work of art that captures personality, relationships, and those little details that make your family yours.
At Make Me A Comic, we specialise in creating custom portraits for every kind of family — big, small, human, furry, or somewhere in between. Each one is drawn entirely from scratch by our artists — no templates, no AI, no shortcuts — just pure creativity and craftsmanship.
Whether it’s a couple’s portrait for an anniversary, a full extended family piece for Grandma’s wall, or a festive portrait that doubles as your Christmas card, these are gifts that never fail to bring a smile (and sometimes happy tears).
A Portrait for Every Occasion
People come to us for portraits for so many reasons — birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, housewarmings, even just to celebrate the chaos of everyday life. But here are some of the most popular ones:
Birthdays That Feel Personal
Forget another gadget or bottle of wine — a hand-drawn portrait is one of the few gifts that feels genuinely heartfelt. You can choose the clothing, pose, and background to match the birthday star’s personality. Add their dog. Add their favourite jumper. Add the chaos of the whole family — it’s completely up to you.
Anniversaries That Tell a Story
Couple portraits are some of our most popular orders. Some are simple and romantic — two people, side by side, holding hands. Others recreate special memories — the wedding day, a first date, a favourite holiday. We can even include pets, kids, or a background that represents your shared journey.
Every detail is chosen by you: the pose, the outfits, even the order of who stands where. You can go classic, silly, or cinematic — whatever feels like you.
Christmas (and Every Holiday)
Our portraits make amazing Christmas gifts — and an even better Christmas card. You can have your whole family drawn together in festive jumpers, maybe holding the pets or surrounded by snow.
Many of our customers send digital copies to their friends as custom cards or print them as framed art to unwrap on Christmas morning. Either way, they’re guaranteed to stand out from the sea of shop-bought cards and predictable gifts.
Families Come in All Shapes and Sizes
We believe family isn’t about numbers — it’s about connection. That’s why we draw portraits for every kind of household imaginable.
Couple Portraits
For partners who want something romantic but unique, a custom couple portrait hits the sweet spot between personal and creative. You can choose a fun cartoon style, a classic hand-drawn look, or even a superhero theme (yes, we’ve done couples as Batman and Catwoman before!).
These portraits also make great gifts from one partner to another — thoughtful, intimate, and far more meaningful than flowers.
Small Families
Perfect for parents with one or two kids (and maybe a pet or two). These portraits often capture those everyday dynamics — the laughter, the cuddles, the “can we get the dog to look this way” energy. We bring that warmth to life with every pencil line.
Large & Extended Families
We love the challenge of big family portraits! Grandparents, parents, kids, cousins, dogs, cats, you name it — everyone can fit in. Customers often send a few individual photos, and we combine them into one cohesive, beautifully balanced piece.
Each person is drawn individually so you can decide the exact order, arrangement, and pose. It’s like designing your own family photo, but one that lasts forever — and everyone actually looks good in it.
The Art Behind the Portraits
What sets our portraits apart is how they’re made.
Every single one is hand-drawn from scratch by our artists — not generated by AI, not copied from stock templates. We study each photo, paying attention to the subtle things: posture, smile, eyes, hair texture, how someone stands next to their partner or child. These details are what make people instantly recognise themselves in the finished piece.
We then carefully sketch the layout, refine the proportions, and build up the color and shading layer by layer. Every portrait goes through a creative review to make sure it feels balanced, expressive, and alive.
No two are ever the same. Even if two families ask for the same style, the end result will always be uniquely theirs.
You Choose Every Detail
Your portrait, your way — that’s our philosophy.
When you order, you’ll be able to customise:
- Clothing: From formal outfits to casual hoodies, holiday dresses, or even Christmas jumpers.
- Pose: Standing, sitting on the couch, walking hand in hand, or all piled together in a fun family huddle.
- People & Pets: Add whoever you like, from grandparents to goldfish.
- Order & Positioning: You decide who stands where — we’ll make sure it looks natural and balanced.
- Backgrounds: Indoors, outdoors, festive, minimalist — it’s all possible.
Once we have your photos and notes, we start sketching. We’ll share a preview before finishing the artwork so you can make small tweaks. When you’re happy, we finalise everything in high-resolution, ready for print or digital use.
Why People Love Them
We get messages every week from customers saying things like, “My mum cried when she opened it,” or “My partner couldn’t stop laughing because it captured us perfectly.” That’s what makes these portraits so special — they connect with people emotionally.
A Gift That Feels Like It Came from the Heart
Whether you’re celebrating a milestone, remembering someone special, or just want a keepsake for yourself, a custom portrait is one of those rare gifts that means more every year.
It’s not just a picture — it’s a story of love, family, and belonging, told through art.
So next time you’re looking for something truly personal — skip the mass-produced and give the hand-drawn. Because one thing’s for sure: a custom portrait from Make Me A Comic is a gift no one will ever forget.
They’re personal, nostalgic, funny, and heartwarming all at once. In a world full of digital noise and AI-generated everything, something drawn by hand feels refreshingly human.
