Meredith Hanson and her Golden Retriever, Willis, have created countless memories across Nantucket, beautifully immortalizing their adventures through Mer’s art.

Mark Twain once said, “Actions speak louder than words.” The lesser-known part of his quote adds, “but not nearly as often.” When it comes to dogs though, actions are all they have; so perhaps a more fitting expression is: “Dogs are the definition of actions speak louder than words. They’ve never told you they love you, but you know they do because they show you every day.”

Meredith Hanson, who readers may recognize as a popular Nantucket-inspired artist whose work has graced the pages and cover of Cape Cod LIFE, resonates with this sentiment, especially when it comes to her dog Willis. For 11 years, Willis has been Mer’s constant companion—when she taught art classes in ‘Sconset he was affectionately dubbed her “art assistant.” During their time living on the island, Willis and Mer could often be found at ‘Sconset Market in the mornings, enjoying hazelnut coffee and blueberry-lemon muffins, or at Claudette’s for lunch, savoring veggie sandwiches (with the essential “secret sauce,” as Mer likes to add). And, of course, there was always time for Willis’ favorite pastime: a leisurely beach stroll. Willis, with his larger-than-life personality, became a beloved figure around town, earning the affectionate title of “the Mayor of Nantucket.”

“I moved to Nantucket full time in the fall of 2011 and launched my art career on island. A year or so went by and I realized that there was something very important missing from my life… a dog,” explains Mer about her early years on-island. She started her research and quickly found a Golden Retriever breeder near her alma mater, Wheaton College. “It felt like fate,” she remembers. “When I met Willis, he sat on my lap, looked up at me, and I knew he was the one. We took the ferry back to Nantucket that night, and the rest is history.”

As Meredith’s art career flourished, Willis began to make frequent appearances in her work. Mer trained for several years under Barbara Herzberg, a remarkable art instructor, before attending Wheaton College to earn her Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art and Art History. Under Barbara’s guidance, she honed her skills in pastel and oil still lifes and landscapes. Over time, her style evolved, and she began experimenting with watercolors and hand-painted acrylics on apparel, furniture, and decorative objects. Willis started appearing in whimsical and meaningful ways throughout her creations, such as in a mural on the window of Provisions in downtown Nantucket. Commissioned by Bill Creelman, CEO of Spindrift, the mural features Willis happily perched with his favorite Spindrift flavor.

Willis also made a special appearance in Magic Eyes, a children’s book by Lauren Fornes, which was illustrated by Meredith. The story follows a blind boy and explores the power of his imagination, with each page beautifully painted by Mer. Proceeds from the book benefit the Perkins School for the Blind. “Lauren asked if Willis could be featured alongside her dog Tuck, and it turned out to be such a fun little Easter egg,” says Mer, reflecting on one of her favorite scenes in the book. 

Meredith is known for her versatility across a variety of artistic mediums. If it can be painted on, then Mer is there to bring whatever canvas she’s using to life—from clothing, baskets, and her custom baubles, to window murals, coffee cups, Easter eggs, and more. Her artwork can be found in special editions of Swan Song, the latest hit by renowned Nantucket author, Elin Hilderbrand, as well as ongoing collaborations with Serena & Lily, Nantucket by Design, Erica Wilson and more! But her creative talents don’t end with painting. Mer’s passion for art also extends into photography, largely thanks to Willis’ photogenic charm. “As my art career evolved into different mediums and product collaborations, I discovered a deep love for photography,” she explains. “I began photographing and filming my creative process as a way of storytelling to show my beginning, middle and end of each project. Along with painting Willis, I loved capturing him on all of our island adventures. From various beaches to the cobblestones on Main Street, Willis and I were always drawing inspiration from all over the island.”

Willis’ distinguished photogenic looks and Mer’s creative spirit have also drawn the attention of Gray Malin, a prominent fine art photographer. Malin is known for his stunning photography compositions, often of remote locations like Nantucket. Recently, he put together a Nantucket photo collection with Meredith as one of his creative directors and guides. “We spent weeks brainstorming ideas, scouting locations, and gathering props to bring his vision to life,” she reflects. And of course, Willis joined the shoot as a model, appearing in several of Malin’s iconic photos. 

In 2024, Malin published DOGS, a collection of photographs of dogs around the world which began with his recognizable shots of glamorous pooches at the Beverly Hills Hotel. He explains how those initial photographs inspired the project in his introduction to the collection: “It was surreal how quickly it crept across the internet and how popular the marriage of an iconic location and the joy of man’s best friend, mixed with my whimsical lens, became overnight. I instantly knew I had to do more and began shooting dogs as my new beloved subject matter.” Malin began traveling everywhere from Aspen to Paris capturing the vivacious joy and quirky personalities of dogs all over the world, including Willis who can be found in two separate photographs in the “Nantucket” section of the book.  

Mer’s love for animals began early on as she was always surrounded by dogs and horses. “Growing up with animals, I’ve always known the joy and lessons they bring to our lives,” she reflects. Those lessons have stayed with her into adulthood, fueling her passion for supporting Nantucket Island Safe Harbor for Animals (NiSHA). NiSHA is a local shelter dedicated to animals in need and offers a variety of services for pet owners on the island. In 2018, Mer partnered with NiSHA to create a custom portrait of an adoptable dog, which was featured on invitations, programs, and other materials for their annual fundraiser. Since then, she has continued to collaborate with the shelter on custom portraits and other projects to raise funds and support its mission.

“Willis actually got kicked out of dog training when he was a puppy,” reflects Mer with a laugh. “It was actually a blessing in disguise because it allowed Willis’ gentle, hilarious, and affectionate nature to flourish. Since bringing Willis home as a puppy he’s filled my life with so much joy and unforgettable moments. He’s been my constant companion for the last 11 years, and greatest source of love.”

Meredith recently celebrated another one of her great loves, tying the knot with her husband Patrick Schramm last May in Princeton, New Jersey. Willis was in attendance, of course. “When they first met, it was love at first sight…for Willis at least,” laughs Mer. “They’ve formed an incredible bond and it was so special to have Willis at the Mountain Lakes House with us to celebrate.” No longer full-time islanders, Mer, Willis, and Patrick are now content to spend their days exploring their new home in Princeton, New Jersey, and making frequent visits back to Nantucket for new painting partnerships, collaborations and some anticipated beach time for Willis. Next on the list for Meredith is a book about her many escapades with her trusty Golden Retriever. “With a lifetime of adventures, collaborations, and memories, I’m excited to start working on a book about Willis’ adventures—the perfect way to capture his spirit and celebrate our unbreakable bond,” she says.

In the final lines of Gray Malin’s introduction to DOGS, he dedicated the work to his rescue dog, Stella. He writes, “She just got a bath and is curled up sleeping while I type. She has no idea how much she has inspired me in this path…I know she won’t be with us forever, but I am so proud to dedicate this book to her—as it is the relationship between all of us and our dogs that make the artwork you see in the book so meaningful.” Much of the same could be said for Willis and his influence on Mer’s artwork, and so in that same fashion, we’re proud to dedicate these pages to Willis…at least until Mer has a book of her own, filled with happy memories of her art assistant, to dedicate to him.  

View more from Meredith Hanson at meredithhansonart.com and on Instagram at @merhanson. See Gray Malin’s new book in Cape Cod DOG.

Allyson Plessner is a freelance writer for Cape Cod Life Publications.