LOVE them or hate them, no-one can imagine our seaside without seagulls.

They have been known to steal our food, make a mess of our bins and one Brighton resident said she was attacked in her garden.

But most of us get on fine with them and we could not imagine the beach without them.

This was the idea behind artist Kathleen Smith's vision for her Snowdog.

Called Seagulls of the South, she honours their notoriety in her design for the new charity art trail around the city and she has designed part of our front page today to celebrate.

"I always thought I couldn't imagine a trip to the seaside without seagulls, there would be something missing," she said.

"The sound of the seagulls is something you expect to hear."

The 43-year-old, who is based in Lincolnshire, jumped at the chance to take part in the Snowdogs by the Sea public art trail - not least because she was desperate to visit Brighton.

She said: "I saw the call for artists to come forward so decided to enter. I have always dreamed of visiting Brighton.

"When I was decorating the dog I spent a week here using spray and acrylic paints but didn't see anything of Brighton. I just worked non-stop. But after the launch I spent some time and visited. It was fantastic - we went on the i360, to the SeaLife Centre, to the Royal Pavilion. It was amazing, it was everything I always thought it would be.

The Argus:

Kathleen's design on the front page of The Argus

Kathleen is delighted with with the Snowdog trail, which is raising money for The Martlets hospice with 43 Snowdogs at sites across the city. Her Seagulls of the South Snowdog can be found in Bristol Court West and is sponsored by Eleanor Hunnisett.

Kathleen added: "We went to see my Snowdog in place and visited some of the others. It was great to see people looking at it and enjoying it, especially the children, When we left on Saturday we were really quite sad the trip was over. "We didn't want to leave. If I could I would move to Brighton."