Alison Friend

Biography

Alison Friend graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 1996 with a degree in Fine Art specialising in Printmaking. This was also the same year she started an apprenticeship with Nottingham City Council becoming the first female stone mason to be employed by the city and studied for three years in part at Weymouth College. Between the years 2001-2007 Friend lived in the US and it was here she realized her ambition to become a children's book illustrator and her first contract with Candlewick Press was signed in 2007 when she had just arrived back in the UK. Five years later, Friend signed with her agent which was a significant turning point in her career and several more picture books were illustrated including contracts with Harper Colins US, Nosey Crow, Hodder Children's UK, Templar, Usbourne, Little Tiger Press and most recently Alfred Knopf US. However, the combination of the pandemic slowing down publishing and extra time to explore traditional painting methods saw many hours in front of an easel and painting became a fundamental and primary part of Friend's practice. Her paintings are sold to collectors all over the world and she has exhibited both nationally and internationally including London, Manchester, Walsall, Scotland, and Los Angeles as well as several on-line exhibitions with international galleries.

Works
  • A painting of a bunny wearing a yellow sweater while eating a cookie.
    Alison Friend
    Cookie Bun, 2025
    oil on gesso panel
    Artwork Dimensions 12 x 9 in
    Framed
    13 1/4 x 10 1/4 in
    33.7 x 26 cm
    $ 6,750.00
  • A dog wearing glasses and a red sweater holding cookies and a striped mug.
    Alison Friend
    Duncan the Dunker, 2025
    oil on gesso panel
    Artwork Dimensions 14 x 11 in
    Framed
    15 1/4 x 12 1/4 in
    38.7 x 31.1 cm
    $ 8,300.00
  • A painting of a brown dog wearing a pink glove on its head.
    Alison Friend
    Labradoodle-do, 2025
    oil on gesso panel
    Artwork Dimensions 16 x 12 in
    Framed
    17 x 13 in
    43.2 x 33 cm
    $ 8,750.00
  • A painting of a beige dog wearing a red sweater with horses on it holding a head of broccoli.
    Alison Friend
    Sean de Floret, 2025
    oil on linen
    Artwork Dimensions 20 x 16 in
    Framed
    21 x 17 in
    53.3 x 43.2 cm
    $ 12,250.00
  • A painting of a brown cat holding a balloon of a pink cat.
    Alison Friend
    She Followed Him Home, 2025
    oil on linen
    Artwork Dimensions 20 x 16 in
    Framed
    21 x 17 in
    53.3 x 43.2 cm
    $ 12,250.00
  • A gold framed painting of a seated orange and white cat wearing a blue hat that says "Son of Cod"" on it.
    Alison Friend
    Son of Cod, 2025
    oil on linen
    Artwork Dimensions 20 x 16 in
    Framed
    24 x 20 in
    61 x 50.8 cm
    $ 12,250.00
  • A painting of a brown bear sitting next to a river holding a red cup.
    Alison Friend
    Maurice, 2025
    oil on linen
    Artwork Dimensions 16 x 12 in
    Framed
    17 x 13 in
    43.2 x 33 cm
    $ 8,750.00
  • Alison Friend, Downward Dog, 2025
    Alison Friend
    Downward Dog, 2025
    oil on linen
    Artwork Dimensions 12 x 9 1/2 in
    Framed
    13 x 10 1/4 in
    33 x 26 cm
    $ 8,000.00
  • A drawing of a cat wearing a puffy winter coat.
    Alison Friend
    Toasty, 2025
    charcoal on paper. Framed
    Artwork Dimensions
    7 x 5 in
    17.8 x 12.7 cm
  • A drawing of a dog holding a taco.
    Alison Friend
    Taco Pup, 2025
    charcoal on paper. Framed
    Artwork dimensions 16 1/2 x 10 1/2 in
    21 1/4 x 15 in
    54 x 38.1 cm
  • A drawing of a white rabbit wearing a sweater while holding a mug.
    Alison Friend
    Flat White Rabbit, 2025
    charcoal on paper. Framed
    Artwork Dimensions
    7 x 5 in
    17.8 x 12.7 cm
  • A drawing of a cat holding a balloon of a cat.
    Alison Friend
    Balloon Blues, 2025
    charcoal on paper. Framed
    Artwork dimensions 16 1/2 x 10 1/2 in
    21 1/4 x 15 in
    54 x 38.1 cm
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