Caricature gifts from 2019: I was incredibly busy in the run up to Christmas with a selection of commissions for wedding anniversaries, retirements, birthday presents, and of course Christmas presents! I usually try to blog each commission after it’s been presented to the subject but I have such a backlog of caricature work to show I’ve decided to wrap it up into one post. If you see anything you like below you can of course order your own version of it. Of course I create completely original caricature art so if you want something in mind that you don’t see here I can draw it for you! Just drop me a line using my contact form.
I’m caricature artist Allan Cavanagh and I have been creating unique caricature gifts and presents in Ireland for over 20 years. If you’re looking for a unique way to mark a birthday, retirement, engagement or other life event please get in touch for details of my completely original bespoke caricature drawings!
Wedding Anniversary Gift Wedding Day / Present Day
This was one of my favourite ideas to work on recently, and of course like all my best ideas it was the client’s idea! She had the concept for a wedding anniversary gift caricature of having her parents on their wedding day looking at their present-day selves in a mirror. I just love this idea so much. The client sent me photos of her parents on their wedding day in their funky wedding attire (people definitely dressed cooler for their weddings then!) and some photos of what they look like now. I included details from their lives when they were married (the vintage motorbike and red scarf had special significance) and their interests from the present day, including baking, reading, and fixing tractors! Below you can see the finished piece in its frame, ready to be shipped for next day delivery. All frames are hand made by The Framing Loft in Galway and packaged and shipped by Carabay Packaging, also in Galway. I’m sure this made a cherished gift and it was certainly one of the cleverest ways of capturing the wedding day and present day.
If you’re interested in commissioning a wedding day/present day anniversary gift please get in touch!
Horse Racing Themed Birthday Gift
This was another interesting one with a very definite idea! It shows a pilot with a strong interest in horse-racing dressed as a jockey on a horse, pictured with his family and pets! The race card and bookie’s odds are full of references to the subject’s life and work. Even the horse’s name has an aeronautical theme!
Caricature Gift for Couple
This caricature went all the way to Australia! It features a couple in their county GAA strips, Westmeath and Donegal respectively, as well as their jobs in teaching and construction. There’s an important pint of stout in there, as well as a set of kettle bells! Also included is a signpost for Kiltoom, Inver, and Perth, all locations that are important to the couple. It’s nice to think of my work hanging all over the world!
Family Gift Caricature: Mom the Taxi Driver!
Any parents reading this will appreciate this mother’s taxi service! It features the whole family getting lifts for their various interests, including GAA and weightlifting. There’s also a gamer and a fairy princess in there! Mum in this case is a bit of a Harry Potter fan so she’s wearing a Hogswart’s Gryffindor uniform, including scarf and tie! She’s looking forward to a TV date with the Kardashians! Also pictured is a signpost for Headford, Caherlistrane, and Kilconly. 
Again, here’s the finished framed piece on its way to its new home! If you’d like a family portrait caricature for the “taxi driver” in your life, drop me a line!
Birthday Present from Group of Friends
This caricature was a birthday present from a group of childhood friends to one of their members. It includes references that were significant (and hopefully funny!) to the gang, including a chef’s hat and wooden spoon, a pair of dirty wellies, a Boyzone t-shirt, a fluffy toy cat, a police officer’s hat, Harry Potter (there he is again!) and a beach bucket and spade. There’s a treehouse with a special name too! I liked adding the colour elements to this otherwise black and white caricature drawing. To find out more about my group caricatures for birthday presents contact me here!
Retiring Scientist Caricature Gift
This one was from earlier in the year. It was a retirement gift for a scientist who was retiring from the company he set up. I liked lots of the little details like the desktop Henry Hoover and the inset portrait of him hanging on the wall from around the time he set up the company. The wall is covered in the corporate logos of various companies related to the subject. There’s the original premises of the company and of course the Camino walking boots cooling off in the corner! If you’d like to order a retirement gift caricature or to find out more just drop me a line!
Retirement Gift Caricature Career Montage
This was another retirement gift once again incorporating aspects of the subject’s life and work. You might recognise Fagan’s Pub of Drumcondra where the company had their first office, and the National Convention Centre.
Leaving Gift for School Principal
This was a gift for a school principal who was leaving for pastures new. The GAA ball in the globe stand was a nice idea. Out the window you can see Fastnet Lighthouse in Cork. You can see a Cork GAA top under his jacket. The caricature gift incorporates the school logo framed on the wall, and there’s a signpost for Schull, Enniskeane, and Lisheen. Also pictured is the subject’s beloved accordion! If you’re interested in ordering a caricature as a leaving gift for a work colleague drop me a line!
And here is the piece framed up and ready to go!
Garda Passing Out Graduation Gift
This caricature was for a graduating Garda after his passing out ceremony. Included is his pet beagle and a hurley and sliothar! The client loved it when she received it: “Just received the caricature today and I’m absolutely delighted with it!”
Couple Gift Caricature
This was a Christmas present with a little Christmas tree with a South African flag. Yes the dog has his ears wrapped up in a towel! The subjects are wearing a red dress and a black tuxedo. There’s a football and medical theme in this piece too.
Vintage Citroën 2CV Caricature Gift
This was a caricature gift for the client’s parents for Christmas. They’re pictured with their beloved vintage Citroën 2CV with its nickname on the number plate! They’re getting ready for another holiday adventure on the road.
Here’s the Citroën 2CV caricature gift framed and ready for the road itself!
Sam Maguire Dublin GAA Caricature Gift!
This was a gift for a big Dublin GAA and Leeds United fan who was about to become a grandfather, hence the baby in the Sam Maguire cup! The baby is wearing half a Kerry jersey and half a Mayo jersey. I even incorporated the two teams into the little leggings! The subject is very involved in the Amateur Football League Ireland so the logo is included on the ball in the corner. He’s also a big Barry Manilow fan so Mr. Manilow in caricature form makes a guest appearance in the background!
Family Group Caricature Gift
Another family gift caricature here, this time the kids are all grown up! Each one of them is holding something symbolic to their careers or hobbies, as are the parents. Hanging in a frame in the middle of them is a photo of their house (based on a real aerial shot of the house supplied by the client). 
Another Allan Cavanagh Caricature framed and ready to go to its new home!
70th Birthday Gift for Dads
This was a birthday gift for the Man United-loving chap in the middle. He’s pictured with his grandkids and pet dog. I’ve included references to his love of growing vegetables, woodturning, baking, and bee-keeping! Pictured in the background is the family home. I was able to hand this one off in person to the client and he was absolutely delighted with it. It’s great to see the reaction my caricature gifts bring!
Here’s the caricature birthday gift framed and ready! Remember caricatures make great 70th birthday gifts for mums and dads, and not just 70 but every age!
Contact Caricature Artist Allan Cavanagh
So that’s a wrap for this very long blogpost rounding up various caricature commissions for birthdays, retirements, engagements, and other events. My caricatures are completely customisable and therefore are one of the most unique gifts you can bestow on someone. I can include their hobbies, job references, pets, and other references that will have special significance to the subject. The only limit is the imagination!
To contact me just use the menu at the top of the page. You can use the contact form, text me, message me on Messenger or get in touch via Whatsapp. Please feel free to submit a query using these methods at any time of the day. For phone enquiries my hours are 10am-5pm daily excluding Sunday and Monday. If you don’t get through please leave a message as I’m often on the road!
I’d like to offer a sincere thanks to everyone who hired me throughout the year and I’m looking forward to bringing more smiles and laughs to people all over the country in 2020.
