Made for Milo
- Made For Milo
- London, ON
- @made.for.milo
- Free Shipping
- madeformilo.com
Learn more about Made for Milo
I started my business in 2018 while working full time in marketing and looking for a creative outlet outside of my day job. I studied visual art at Western University, and creating art had always been a huge part of who I was, but I wanted to reconnect with it in a more personal way.
It began when I created a portrait of my own dog and realized how powerful it felt to turn a simple photo into something meaningful and lasting. I opened an Etsy shop initially selling my original animal artwork, including lions, birds, and turtles. Almost immediately, I started receiving a flood of inquiries from people asking if I could create custom portraits of their own pets.
As I began taking on those requests, it became clear there was a real gap in the market. Pets are family, yet there weren’t many options that felt truly personal, emotional, and high quality all at once. What started as a passion project quickly grew into a full time business, especially as customers began ordering portraits as heartfelt gifts and memorial pieces to honor pets they loved deeply.
Made for Milo creates custom pet portraits that are entirely hand illustrated by me, one piece at a time, using each customer’s photos as reference. Every portrait is carefully crafted to capture a pet’s unique expression, personality, and defining features, with thoughtful attention to colour, texture, and composition.
My background in visual art, graphic design, photography, and marketing has shaped both the artistic and experiential side of the business. I am extremely detail oriented, from how the pet is interpreted visually to how the overall composition feels as a finished piece. The goal is always to create artwork that feels emotional, timeless, and worthy of being displayed in the home.
What truly sets Made for Milo apart is the collaborative proofing process. Customers receive a preview of their portrait before it is finalized, giving them the opportunity to provide feedback and request refinements. This allows clients to be part of the creative journey and ensures the final artwork feels deeply personal and meaningful.
Behind the scenes, the business is run by both me and my husband. While I lead the creative direction and personally illustrate every portrait, my husband supports the business through technical systems, operations, and process optimization. Together, we have built a streamlined yet highly personal experience that balances artistry with professionalism.
Made for Milo is especially known for its memorial and gift portraits, often created to honour pets who have passed or to celebrate the bond between people and their animals. At its core, the business is about storytelling, craftsmanship, and turning a beloved pet into a lasting piece of art that holds real emotional value.
My bestselling product is the acrylic and oil style custom pet portraits on framed canvas (mostly 8×12″ or 12″x16″).
I think it’s popular because the portraits are deeply personal while still feeling elegant, timeless, and sophisticated. Each piece is custom illustrated from scratch and designed to function first and foremost as a piece of art, not a novelty item. Customers are drawn to the fact that the portraits are created to seamlessly fit into their homes as elevated décor, something that can live alongside other artwork rather than feeling themed or trendy.
What makes it especially compelling is the balance between emotional meaning and refined design. The artwork captures a pet’s personality and story in a way that feels thoughtful and intentional, while the overall style remains classic and enduring. Because of this, the portraits feel just as appropriate in a carefully styled living room as they do as a deeply sentimental gift.
The collaborative proofing process also plays a major role in its popularity. Customers love being part of the creative journey and having the opportunity to provide input before the artwork is finalized. This involvement reinforces that each piece is truly one of a kind and made specifically for them, not mass produced.
The portraits are particularly meaningful for memorials and milestone gifts, where emotional care really matters. Knowing that each piece is created by me, with patience and attention to detail, gives customers confidence that their pet is being honoured thoughtfully and respectfully. The combination of personal storytelling, artistic integrity, and a timeless, décor focused aesthetic is what makes the work resonate so strongly and keeps people proud to display it in their homes.
My personal favourite product right now is memorial pet portraits. While they’re emotional to create, they’re also the most meaningful. Knowing that something I’ve made brings comfort to someone who’s grieving their pet is incredibly rewarding. Customers often share stories, memories, and reactions when they receive their portrait, and it reminds me why I started this business in the first place.
Babyccino
