Award-winning artist, illustrator, muralist, designer, and podcaster Dennis Friel has built a distinguished career rooted in the ocean, coastal culture, and sporting life. Working across a range of mediums, he is best known for his dynamic portrayals of game fish, apex predators, and marine environments, creating work defined by movement, energy, realism, and a distinctive expressive style. Based in South Florida, Friel owns and operates Connected By Water®, his full-time creative art and design studio inspired by the saltwater lifestyle and a lifelong connection to the sea.

Friel credits his experiences on the water, adventurous travels, and the natural environments of Florida as the greatest influence on his work. His original paintings, commissioned pieces, murals, and large-scale installations have earned an international following among collectors, sportsmen, and ocean enthusiasts. His artwork has been featured at premier fishing and major sporting events, within leading publications, and in private and corporate collections around the world, establishing him as one of the most recognizable creative voices within contemporary marine and sportfishing art.

A committed conservationist, Friel considers the protection of natural resources and healthy fisheries an essential part of his artistic purpose. He has contributed his work and creative voice to conservation initiatives throughout Florida and beyond, using art as a means of strengthening the connection between people and the natural world. Beyond the studio, Dennis is also an avid fisherman, husband, and father of two.