Awwww . . . will you just look at that face? Who could resist a dog who loves sausages? If he came to my house, I’d served him bangers and mash for breakfast, toad in the hole for lunch, and a mixed platter of bratwurst, chorizo, and Cumberland for supper. I hope he likes me just as much as I like him. 🙂

Our sausage loving friend was created by UK artist Alison Friend (perfect name). You may know her as the illustrator of over 20 children’s books (Bramble and Maggie series, Making a Friend (Tammi Sauer), Bear’s Book (Claire Freedman), Mr. Brown’s Bad Day (Lou Peacock)).

I first saw her art on greeting cards she designed for the publisher Two Bad Mice, which preceded her picture book work. Painting animal portraits was a natural progression from creating anthropomorphic characters for children’s stories. She’s a lifelong animal lover and began drawing in childhood.

Born in l973, Alison graduated with a degree in Fine Art and Printmaking from Nottingham Trent University in England. She was also the first female stonemason for the City of Nottingham. She currently lives in the Lake District.

Her animal paintings blend realism with humor. She’s brilliant at capturing facial expressions and conveying the emotions of her subjects. Check out the cheeky grins, side eyes, mischievousness, surprise, innocence, and earnestness. The longing gazes and overall adorableness melt the heart. So much personality! It’s amazing how endearing these animals are; people connect with them right away.

Need I mention how much I love that food is also featured in her pictures? Yes, she does some portraits showing animals posing with other objects, but the majority seems to include sweet treats. Ice cream, lollipops and cookies add a bit of nostalgia, triggering pleasant childhood memories. Working in oil on linen canvas or panel, she’s given us a delightful glimpse into animals’ secret lives.

I start off with an idea for a character. I have lots in my head. It’s like a waiting room until it’s their time to come out! As strong as an idea for a character is, they do take on a life of their own. That’s what I love. I get to know them as the painting progresses.

I keep the beginnings of a painting very loose and – a few brush marks can create a particularly funny expression and all of a sudden there they are!

I really focus on those glances our pets give us. We think of them as having human emotions and I try to capture that. It’s how we connect with the animals in our lives. Hopefully I bring just enough to the work for the viewer to create their own story for the subject. I want the viewer to be part of the creative process.

Alison’s original paintings are sold to collectors worldwide. She has exhibited her work through galleries in London, Scotland, and Walsall.

She sells Limited Edition prints via her website shop. These sell out quickly, so it’s best to sign up for her mailing list to keep informed of current or future print drops. You can also follow her on Facebook or Instagram.

And now, I simply must eat some sausages.

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