Evelyn & Alan with Ollie (the real Top Dog) in 2004. Rescued in 1993 at the age of 2, Ollie filled our home and our lives with joy until he peacefully passed in 2007 at the age of 16. He remains in our hearts and souls forever.

Top Dog Art represents the joint efforts and aspirations of the husband and wife team of Alan Hecht and Evelyn Morris Hecht. This aspiration is best expressed in our mission which is “to share Evelyn’s art with the world and to aid animal rescue efforts, starting with dogs.”

THE ARTIST

Evelyn Morris Hecht, a basically self taught designer and artist, spent 15 years in the New York fashion industry. Her experience includes designing for private clients, several years of designing under her own label EVELYN MORRIS, and a variety of positions in established fashion houses. In 1989 she became interested in animal rights issues and decided to change her life direction based on this. It started coming together in 1993 when she rescued her first dog Ollie, a 2 year old abused Bichon Frise. Later, her attention turned to Greyhounds, an incredibly sweet and most neglected breed. Evelyn started using her talent as an artist to do dog portraits, with the intention of someday turning them into a business that could contribute to the cause of abused animals.  In 2004, the business Top Dog Art was created. Evelyn has also been a member of the Pastel Society of North Carolina since 2001.

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

“The dogs that I am moved to draw and paint are not necessarily the ideal AKC standard for their breed, or even completely purebred. I am attracted to them by their common yet individual unifying quality – that of a very expressive and special soul essence. There are those that say that animals do not possess souls, but I feel differently. As I gaze into their eyes, I sense a quality and an energy that can only be described as ‘one with the universe’.”