About Me
Sophie Eglinton
Greetings! I'm Sophie Angharad Eglinton, a professional artist with 14 years of drawing experience—a journey that began with a childhood fascination with wildlife and has evolved into a passion for animals, pet portraiture and veterinary medicine!
My passion for animals ignited early on, with vivid memories of fascination starting at the age of 5. I was captivated by the mesmerizing march of ant colonies and was quick to set up makeshift rehabilitation cages for injured creatures brought home by our cats. Inspired by animal enthusiasts like Steve Irwin and shows on Animal Planet, my insatiable curiosity about the animal kingdom continues to drive me.
With supportive parents, I had almost every conceivable pet—snakes, cats, frogs, dogs, bunnies, ferrets, hamsters, birds, fish, turtles, geckos, horses, tarantulas, sheep, and pigs! The list is endless, reflecting my deep love for animals. I’m so grateful to have had the inspiration and opportunity to develop curiousity and respect for so many species until the end of their lives. As well as having had these animals as pets to use as references! Teaching them to stay still was/is never easy though!
Originally from Cape Cod, USA, I relocated to Zürich, Switzerland in 2010 with my family. Amidst the overwhelming German in school, I discovered a new world in drawing, which ultimately lead me to transform my schoolwork into canvases for doodles! Art became a place of comfort, as whenever drawing, I could only have a singular focus on the next pencil or brush stroke, meaning that I cannot focus on any other worry apart from where I should place my next stroke.
Returning to an English-speaking high school in Zürich after finishing Swiss middle school, I pursued IGCSEs and A-Levels, achieving an A* in Art & Design. This success fueled my determination to continue learning and affirmed that my artistic endeavors resonated with others. At the beginning of my career as an artist, I mainly painted in oils and had the privilege of being featured in an exhibition at the Gallery Art Cuellar Nathan in Zürich, Switzerland, called ‘Young Artists’ in May 2014.
In 2018, I suffered a riding accident which became a massive turning point in my life. When a coma briefly took away the use of my hands, art became a lifeline. I was terrified I wouldn't be able to write and draw again, but within a few months, the ability slowly returned. It wasn't just a skill but a means of physical therapy. The healing process reignited my love and respect for animals and medicine, after experiencing the strength of animals and the care of the medical field from the inside.
As a thank you to my doctors and nurses, I completed artworks while being an in-patient, representing the things they helped me with: an anatomically correct heart for the nurses, a hand lifting up another hand for my therapists, and a scan of my brain where it was injured with a band-aid imposed over it to illustrate how they helped it heal for my doctors.
I never once feared my horse after the accident. It was never his fault, and so I still feel understanding and unconditional love. It was a pleasure for me to look at his face while I drew him again after my accdident, getting to know his mind through pencil and hours of staring at his face. Each brushstroke is like another increase in closeness to anatomy and behavior. Horses have evolved into beloved muses of mine, symbolizing resilience, and it's incredible for me to unmask their silent language and personalities held in their faces. I find deciphering subtle microexpressions to be fascinating.
Originally studying Veterinary Bioscience BSc. (Hons) in Aberystwyth, UK, and Veterinary Medicine DVM in Budapest, I’ve taken a break to transfer to a Veterinary Medicine course in Switzerland and to focus on my art—particularly with pastel pencils and oil paints.
Self-taught and currently immersed in veterinary medicine, I draw inspiration from both worlds to bring you art with clinical precision and anatomical understanding. Let me capture the essence of your pets and favorite animals on canvas!
Join me on this journey where art, animals, and medicine intertwine, each stroke telling a story of healing, resilience, and the power of creativity. Navigate with me the colorful intersections of pencils and stethoscopes.