In 1850, Ansdell started collaborating on pictures with Thomas Creswick, who specialised in landscapes (e.g.:"The South Downs", "England's day in the country" etc.).

Ansdell's best known works include Stag at Bay (1846), The Combat (1847), and Battle of the Standard (1848) – depicting the capture of the French flag at Waterloo by Sergeant Ewart of the Scots Greys.

[4] Ansdell's subject matter was compared to that of Edwin Landseer, though critical opinion was that, though popular, his works lacked the latter's emotional impact.

His reputation was as a hardworking but occasionally over-proud artist; for instance, he received no royal commissions after refusing to paint Queen Victoria's dogs unless they were brought to his studio.

There are further Ansdell paintings hanging in non-public rooms at Fylde Borough Council Town Hall that can be viewed by prior arrangement or on heritage open days in September.

In October 2017 a large painting by Ansdell of a Friesian cow was featured on BBC One's Antiques Roadshow and was valued, by art expert Rupert Maas, as being worth between 15,000 and £20,000.