ABOUT THE ARTIST

Alison Friend
British b. 1973

A graduate of Nottingham Trent University with a degree in Fine Art and Printmaking. She holds the distinction of being the first female stonemason for the City of Nottingham. An accomplished children’s book illustrator of over twenty books to date —with notable publishers such as Harper Collins, Nosy Crow, Hodder Children’s, Templar, Usbourne, Little Tiger Press, Alfred Knopf and most recently Artisan.  

Friend’s oil paintings combine the timeless techniques of the Old Masters with a playful contemporary twist, capturing the human-like antics of cats and dogs. Her distinctive anthropomorphic animal portraits have garnered widespread acclaim, leading to exhibitions across the United Kingdom, Los Angeles, New York, and Miami—British Art Fair at Saatchi Gallery, Context, Manchester Art Fair, Royal Watercolour Society, and Outsider Art Fair.  

Alison lives with her son in the Lake District.