creative gift ideas

Unusual Engagement Present Idea

Email From Customer:

“Many thanks for your reply re my friend's engagement present. I am attaching some pictures of them both and also of the background where the engagement took place.

I am wondering if it is possible to include a sign post pointing to Mallow, Ballinascarthy, Myrtle Beach and Galway in it? (Significant places that they met and lived etc)

They are both quite sporty and active aswell? Marie in a red top as it is her team colour.

And would you be able to include the date that Marie and Conor got engaged somewhere as well please (maybe at the bottom of the pic?) 21/07/2018”

Finished Caricature:

Birthday Gift for Partner

Email From Customer:

“I would like to order a glossy A3 print for my partner as a birthday gift. He is Superdad and family man with 2 crazy boys. I would like to have Terry with the boys in the picture. His biggest passion is travelling. He likes to surprise us with unexpected trips. Furthermore he likes to go on hikes in mountains and as a family we often go to the beach. He likes to watch old (Western) movies. He works as an engineer.


I would like a caricature of Terry with the lads. Maybe as an old movie style cowboy on the beach with the boys somewhere? 
I have not a creative mind at all but I hope I gave you enough information to think of something”

Finished Cartoon:

“Hi Brendan. It looks great. Thank you very much” - Diana

Engagement Present Idea

Email From Customer:

“I got a caricature picture from you a few months ago and loved it. Was hoping to get another one made if possible. They got engaged in Times Square so could you put that as the background? She’s a guard so could you have her wearing the uniform, and have him in a Mayo jersey?”

[I replied - For the Times Square background there will be billlboards, so we will need something on them. So can you think of some products that are relevant to the couple? I'll put a Mayo flag on one of them. Anything else you can think of?]

“Great idea with the billboards. So she is from Galway and he is from mayo , so you could have the 2 flags, or they are both very into Gaelic football so you could have a picture of Sam McGuire cup with both flags on it? I can't really think of any products, maybe Corona or Supermacs , she was big into rowing so maybe a picture of people rowing?

Could you try put an advert saying 'Mundy playing live tonight 18th march 2017 in Copperface jacks, with special guests Martha Coyne and Eoin Sweeney' if you could fit it!”

Finished Cartoon:

“I received the picture last week and delighted with it thanks very much, have recommended you to a few friends! “ - Louise

40th Birthday Present Idea

Email From Customer:

Hi Brendan, looking to get another caricature from you

- She's a jogger

- loves her hens

- and her dog Mikey! (see attached pic)

- is from Killenaule (Co. Tipperary) and works as deli manager for Dwyer's Butcher's in Killenaule 

- big Tipp supporter

- If the dog could be on a lead with his name 'Mikey' even just barely visible and the hens following behind 

- Maybe add in sweat bands on her wrists and forehead just to emphasise the jogging theme 

- Could you add in a speech/thought bubble with the phrase "Jasus I'm wrecked lads!"

- And a can of Bud in her other hand!

The message for it is:

     "Happy 40th T, lots of love Ca xxx"

Finished Cartoon:

“just to let you know that the caricature arrived safely and Tanya was thrilled with it.” - Catherine

Gift for Bridesmaids

Email From Customer:

“Hi I was looking at getting 1 of these made up as a thank you gift for my bridesmaids. I would need 4 of them.”

Finished Cartoon:

“It's perfect.. I love lt. Thanks very much” - Mairead



Work Leaving Present

Email From customer:

Hi Brendan, I hope you're well. My mum, boyfriend and I have all ordered caricatures from you recently and I am hoping to do the same again for a work colleague. Unfortunately the turnaround is quite tight as it would be needed in our city centre Dublin office for next Friday .

Julie works in our events team and is leaving after 16 years. She has always worked with our company merchandise and brand  hence the references below!

·         Two photos attached of Julie – she has green eyes.

·         Cream or white top, navy trousers.

·         A white swipe card for work hanging from her belt with the attached AL green symbol on it.

·         Holding a large glass of gin and tonic.

·         An open or closed golf umbrella.

         Our office is along the Liffey beside the Samuel Beckett Bridge in Dublin so if it was possible to put the bridge or at least the river in the background that would be great.

·         An Emirates plane in the sky (not too large)

Finished Cartoon:

“That looks great Brendan. Her smile in particular is spot on” - Ruth

Wedding Present For Sister

Email From Customer:

“Hi. My sister is getting married in August and I was hoping to get a pic of her and her husband to be. The background would be Sydney Australia with maybe the Opera house and the Harbour bridge in shot if possible. Maybe even just a small drawing of a helicopter over these landmarks, as that’s where they got engaged. Also a nice touch would be a sign post with their home areas Charlestown, Co Mayo, and Ballinagh Co.Cavan as four destinations on the sign post. I was thinking maybe Mayo and Cavan could be written as gaelige Mhaigh Eo and An Cabhán”

Finished Canvas:

“Excellent work. Everything looks better than I had even hoped” - Damien

Present For Husband (Celebrating a work milestone)

Email From Customer

“Hi Brendan. My husband Paul works as a agent for Irish Pride & Barrons Bakery - in the past he’s also worked for Lenihans Bakery - I have a few photos of his vans with labels on them and one of Barrons Bakery & the man himself -hopefully these will help. its 25 years that Paul will have been working as a breadman. This is to celebrate that milestone”

[To do the background I googled “Barrons Bakery” and got a Google Streetview angle where the side of the shop was visible, with the sign painted on the side. So I did the Irish Pride van parked on the path, with Barrons in view behind]

Finished Cartoon:

“Brendan, a million thank you's for the fantastic caricature. Paul was amazed & lost for words when he saw it - it is taking pride of place in our kitchen. Thank you again” - Liesl

Engagement Present Idea

Email From Customer

“It's an engagement caricature I'm looking for. I have attached the photos, you can let me know if you need better ones or not. I have also attached a photo of him with his team mates it's the only photo of him with the goalie jersey. It’s the white with number one on it.

So I was thinking could you do beach background him down on knee with ring and with jersey on and maybe a hurley and helmet somewhere in it. Would it be possible to put the black top on her that she is actually wearing in the picture and white leggins because that’s what she was wearing on the day.

Could I get the date put in 21st of May 2018 and the place Torrevieja, Spain somewhere, or put in “congratulations on your engagement”. I will get the A3 size”

Finished Cartoon:

“That is brilliant. I love it thanks” - Patricia

Wedding Present Idea (Caricature on Framed Canvas)

Email From Customer:

“Hiya present will be for a wedding If u have any ideas.. the couple run a pub together “the mill house. It’s in Tuam”

Finished Canvas:

“Perfect thanks a million Brendan for all your help” - Sarah

Work Leaving Present Idea

Order Details From Customer:

“Thinking of getting a caricature for a colleague that has transferred to another school. Geraldine is a French teacher, loves traveling! Quite glam drives a BMW loves fashion! She was teaching with us in Hazelwood College! So would be lovely if you could put in Some where Au Revoir from All the Hazelnuts!!! Would there room to include our school crest or something? She has transferred to another school and was working with us for 17 years. So could we have her holding a gin and tonic? She used to organise all the school tours to Paris and has often gone skiing to Andorra”

Finished Caricature:

“It’s fab! I love it :)” - Michelle

Present For an Engagement at Christmas

Order Details From Customer:

“I would like to get another engagement print off you. On this one he proposed to her Xmas morning while opening presents under the tree. He had a box done up with scrabble letters saying "Mammy will you marry Daddy" and there were two teddies in it with the names Evan and Ethan in it see pick below. Is this something you can incorporate in the picture?”


Finished Caricature:

“That’s perfect” - Louise

40th Birthday Present From Family (Background is Malahide Marina)

Order Details:

“We're going to go with an A3 colour caricature please - it's for my sister Denise's 40th Birthday. I've attached a few photos of her, are they enough for you to work with?

The following are a few personal touches that we would like you to incorporate if possible:

• 'Malahide Marina' in the background  - as in a few boats and a sign for it;

• Signpost with 'Swords' going one way and 'Fab Forties' going another;

• Denise wearing a Dublin jersey with a Gin & Tonic in one hand and a tub of popcorn in the other!

• The text 'Happy 40th Birthday Denny' across the top and 'Lots of Love Mum & Dad xx' at the bottom - as in one of the examples you sent for someone called Lucy;

• Now this is a long shot but if you could put a small Roy Keane in the pic somewhere in a Man U jersey with a Red Panda on a lead that'd be perfect - don't ask!! 😊😊”

[I couldn’t put Roy Keane in the cartoon as that would be a copyright issue. Instead I did a Man U jersey on the panda and a hat with “KEANO” on it]

Finished Caricature:

“Very happy with that!” - Suzanne

Birthday Present Idea 60th

Customer Order Details:

“See some photos attached and a bit about the man himself below – let me know if you need more.

  •  A Lawyer all his life, works for A&L Goodbody he's a construction lawyer and was very involved in the Point Village.

  • From Galway (and loves it), lives in Terenure

  • His favourite restaurant in Galway is O'Gradys Seafood in Barna

  • BIG into all Music, Bruce Springsteen is a favourite

  • Loves going on cruises

  • Likes rugby and GAA

  • Extremely friendly / popular

  • 'Giller Day' is an actual calendar day!  (this is a day when he brings his whole team out on the rip for a day in town!)

  • Fan of drinking Gin!

I look forward to hearing from you and thanks!”

Finished Caricature:

“That's super thank you!” - Julie

Design for a Wedding Invite (Background is the Armada Hotel, Clare)

Order details:

“I hope this email finds you well I got your name from a friend, you did a sketch for her wedding last year. We are looking to get a sketch done similar to the one attached for the cover of our wedding invites. Could you let me know a price and timeline for doing this.

Looking forward to hearing from you”

[Attached photo was a picture of a groom lifting a barbell, with the bride sitting on top]

Finished Cartoon

“Thanks so much for that Brendan, appreciate it” - Ciara

Engagement Present Cartoon Clontarf Seafront

Email from customer:

“I would like to get a caricature done for two friends of mine that have recently gotten engaged.

They got engaged at the seafront in Clontarf in Dublin so I was thinking of maybe having that in the background along with a bench with a heart engraved on the bench with Joy and Des (their names) on it. If you think that would work?

I was thinking of something a little different and not have them posing together as a couple but maybe instead have them separate? Joy is a dancer (ex ballerina) so I was thinking maybe she could be pirouetting in the foreground of the picture (or even better, on the bench!)

I know that probably sounds a bit mad so I’m open to suggestions on what you think would work best – I would just prefer to have something a little different to them just standing side by side if that makes sense”

Finished Caricature:

engagement presetn cartoon caricature.jpg

“Just to let you know I received the print this morning, I’m delighted with it. Thanks again for all your patience on this one! I have given your details to a few friends so hopefully you will hear from them!” - Yvonne

Framed Wedding Cartoon (Background is The Lyrath Hotel, Kilkenny)

Customer email:

“It's for their wedding so if you put the date on it please 28th April 17. Their names are Jamie and Anita. Reception in The Lyrath Hotel, Kilkenny”

Finished Caricature:

“Hi that's perfect thanks” - Emma

Wedding Gift Cartoon

Customer Email:

“I’m interested in ordering a caricature print on canvas for my friends as a wedding gift 😊 they are a mad couple that likes to do crazy things. I don’t really have a theme on my mind for the caricature I hope you could help me with that. They are getting married in Arms hotel listowel Co.Kerry.

My question is for you, wedding is next Wednesday would it be possible for you to finish it so early and would it get delivered on time?

Ill post you pictures of the Klaudia and Jamie and their son James when you reply 😊.

Looking forward hearing from you

Regards Paulina”

Finished Caricature:

“Absolutely love this ! It’s fantastic thank you 😊” - Paulina

60th Birthday Present Cartoon with Family

Customer Email:

“Hi Brendan

I'm looking for a caricature for my father in laws 60th birthday. My idea would be to have him in it with his five children all dressed in their local GAA club jersey.

Regards,Andy

PS My wife and I actually got one of your caricatures as a Xmas present one year and it has pride of place in our house”

Finished Cartoon:

“Thanks a million Brendan” - Andy

Gift For Friend's Wedding

Customer Email:

“Hi. Was looking 4 a cartoon picture of my friend's wedding. She likes Winnie the Pooh & he likes the Simpsons. They got married a few weeks ago but they are having a wedding party on the 3rd of October. Could it be done before that date? Here are a few photo which I hope will do the job :)”


Hi Lisa. Those are copyrighted characters you mentioned so we are not allowed to use them in a drawing. But I could do the bride with a jar of honey. And I could put their family name in the clouds similar to the way it appears at the start of The Simpsons?

Finished Cartoon:

“Thanks very much for doing the picture. Received it today...
You did a fantastic job & I absolutely love it. Can't wait till my friend sees it :)
Fab work & I will recommend you to anyone
Thanks again” - Lisa