British-born painter, writer and sculptor Leonora Carrington, considered one of the last of the original surrealists, has died in Mexico at the age of 94.

Carrington was known for her haunting, dreamlike works which often focused on strange ritual-like scenes with birds, cats, unicorn-like creatures and other animals as onlookers or seeming participants.

She was also part of a famous wave of artistic and political emigrés who arrived in Mexico in the 1930s and 1940s – and, in the male-dominated realm of surrealism, was a member of a rare trio of Mexico-based female surrealists along with Frida Kahlo and Remedios Varo.

“She was the last great living surrealist,” said long-time friend and poet Homero Aridjis. “She was a living legend.”

Friend and promoter Isaac Masri said she died on Thursday of old age, after being admitted to hospital.

“She had a great life, and a dignified death, as well, without suffering,” he said.

Ms Carrington’s body was taken to a Mexico City funeral home for viewing.

“She created mythical worlds in which magical beings and animals occupy the main stage, in which cobras merge with goats and blind crows become trees,” Mexico’s National Arts Council wrote, adding: “These were some of the images that sprang from a mind obsessed with portraying a reality that transcends what can be seen.”

Mexican author Elena Poniatowska was a long-time friend of the artist and wrote the novel Leonora based on her life.