Dawn Secord is a professional author, artist and illustrator. In addition to writing and illustrating books for her series, A Dog Bling, and designing book covers, she paints western art, landscapes, seascapes, and still life, Her passion is painting animals. In 1996 she left the corporate world to pursue a career as a fine artist. Her favorite mediums are oil and pastel. With oils, she enjoys a painterly approach. With pastels, she pursues photorealism. She loves the quality and detail pastels allow her to capture when working on animal paintings. Dawn's work is known for the emotion captured in the animal's eyes.
Dawn is an internationally collected artist. She is a signature member of the Pastel Society of America, a member of the Pastel Society of the Southwest and is an artist registered with the AKC Museum of the Dog. Her paintings have won many awards, have been juried in numerous exhibits, and have been awarded several Best in Shows. Dawn's work has been on magazine covers and as featured stories in national art, business and animal publications such as The Pastel Journal, The Canine Chronicle, The Western Art Collector, North Lights Book Magazine, the Irish Setter Club of America's Memo to Members, Borzoi International and The American Kennel Club's Gazette. Dawn illustrated a children's book titled Show Dogs Escape to the Seashore with dog writer and American Kennel Club judge, Marsha Hall Brown. She has illustrated a historical book for this same author titled Under Sun, Stars and Sails in 2019. She has illustrated a number of books for other authors-most recently Draftee Marches with the Band of Brothers in 2024. Dawn is a member of the Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators, The Dog Writers Association of America and the Cat Writers of America.
She is actively working on her children's book series, A Dog Bling. Two picture books and a coloring book have been produced. Her 3rd children's picture book is underway. Dawn lives in Anna, Texas with her husband, Rich, their Irish Setters, a few cats, a cockatiel, and some fluffy show chickens.