Justine Osborne - dog artist Cirencester

Justine Osborne's studio in Cirencester is where a proper artist has turned her obsession with dogs into something genuinely worth seeking out. She paints them - not cutesy greeting-card versions, but portraits with real character, capturing the exact moment a spaniel's ear flops or a terrier's eyes go mischievous. The work lines the walls of her Cirencester space, and if you're the sort who stops to chat with strangers about their pets, you'll find yourself lost here for ages.

This is squarely for dog people, obviously. Walkers passing through Cirencester on the Cotswold Water Park trail might swing by, but you're really here if you love the animals themselves - or if you're after a custom portrait commission. Families with kids won't find much to keep them occupied unless they've got a genuine interest in art and an ability to stand still.

The setup feels more like visiting a working studio than a formal attraction, so expect to ring ahead or check locally in town before turning up. Cirencester itself is lovely for a proper walk, with the Roman amphitheatre worth an hour if you're into that sort of thing. If you're camping at Hoburne Cotswold or Cirencester Park, this makes a decent rainy-day diversion - it's walkable from both, though the Park site is much closer. Not a destination in itself, but genuinely good if you're already in the area and dog portraiture appeals.