The Family behind the studio

Welcome to the Tooting Snoots family, my name is Christina Crook, I was born and raised in South West London, just off Northcote Road, and Tooting is now my home.

I adore Tooting Common, Tooting Bec Lido and our local community, and I am a artist member of Sprout Arts on Moyser Road.

Toffee, the mini, long-haired dachshund, is my muse and the reason I began pet portraiture. I had the skills and the beautiful dog so how could I not draw her?! She is a shy but loud, little girl so please forgive us if you hear us approaching from a mile away. She is incredibly cheeky, loving and a big part of my motivation to draw, so that I can spend my time with her.

My husband, Edward, is my loving nerd: DND, Warhammer, running, reading and swimming in the lido are his main passions and he is a wonderful supportive partner. We met in our final years at University and have been together coming up 12 years.

Toffee is very much our child and the queen of our household so we understand and believe in the desire to celebrate your little, loved one and to invest in a piece of art to immortalise their beauty.

A little more about the artist, I am a self-taught creative with a degree in Biology and various corporate experience. I've found I need to spend a large portion of my days creating and art-making for my wellbeing and love my career now as an artist and graphic designer. On a personal and perhaps relatable note, I have multiple chronic conditions, PCOS, ADHD and CFS, that shape who I am and my values of kindness and compassion.

Thank you so much for taking the time to get to know the artist and family behind our Pet Portrait studio. When you commission a Tooting Snoots portrait, I will be lovingly illustrating your beloved and it will be my honour.