Born in Edinburgh 1953. Following a period working in the Engineering industry Allan completed the Art Foundation Course at Leith School of Art before studying at Edinburgh College of Art from 2005-2009 gaining a BA (Hons) Painting & Drawing. Since then Allan has worked full time as a visual artist. He regularly contributes to group shows across the country most recently at the RSA Open Exhibition in Edinburgh and is held in private collections in Scotland, Ireland, Germany, USA and Canada.
Artist Statement
My interest is in the investigation of architectural shapes and surfaces through the medium of painting. I am drawn to ambiguous spaces at the edges of the built environment where boundaries between civilization and nature, order and disorder, past and present have become blurred and indistinct. Where overlooked landscapes of rural and urban decay co-exists with our industrial backdrop.
What draws my attention to the object is its surface, the colours on its planes, the textures and the materials of which it is made. I also consider how it is situated in the landscape and the real and imaginary histories and stories which surround it.
My aim is to invoke an atmosphere capturing reminisces and bygone memories of the object and reflecting its impact on the viewer.
Curriculum Vitae
Born in 1953, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Biography
2009 to present day Visual Artist
2005-2009 Edinburgh College of Art, BA (Hons) Painting & Drawing
2004-2005 Leith School of Art Foundation Course
Pre-2003 Working in the Engineering Industry
Selected Exhibitions
2018 8 December - 20 January 2019, Mixed Winter Exhibition, Fidra Fine Art Gallery, (Main St.) Gullane, East Lothian
2018 25 November - 13 December, 138th RSW Annual Exhibition, RSA, The Mound, Edinburgh
2018 15 November - 26 January 2019, Mixed Winter Exhibition, Gallery Ten, 5 William St. Edinburgh
2018 3 Nov. - 3 March 2019, 5 Years - Celebrating the Gallery's birthday, Mixed Show, The Velvet Easel Gallery, Portobello
2018 9 June - 15 July, 40:40 Vision, 40 years of Wasps Studios, , Kirkcudbright Gallery, Dumfries and Galloway
2018 26 May - 24 June, New Beginnings, Fidra Fine Art Gallery, (Main St.) Gullane, East Lothian
2018 Mixed Open Exhibition,Fidra Fine Art Gallery, North Berwick
2017 Mixed Open Exhibition,Fidra Fine Art Gallery, North Berwick
2017 The RSW, Lillie Art Gallery, Station Rd., Milngavie, Glasgow
2017 RSA, Open Exhibition,The Mound, Edinburgh
2017 Land & Sea, 6 ArtistsExhibition, Craigard Gallery, Wigtown, Dumfries and Galloway
2017 Summer Exhibition,Gallery Ten, 5 William St. Edinburgh
2017 Mixed Open Exhibition, Fidra Fine Art Gallery, North Berwick
2017 Christmas Mixed Exhibition,Fidra Fine Art Gallery, North Berwick
2016 Winter Exhibition - Featured Artist, Edinburgh Drawing School, Great King St. Edinburgh
2016 Winter Mixed Exhibition,Gallery 10, Winter Exhibition, Stafford St. Edinburgh
2016 'Ya Bass' Bass Rock – A Timeless Muse Exhibition Fidra Fine Art Gallery, North Berwick
2016 Open Mixed ShowThe RSW, The Meffan Art Gallery, West High St. Forfar, Angus
2016 Winter Mixed Exhibition,Fidra Fine Art Gallery, North Berwick
2015 Open Exhibition,RSA, The Mound, Edinburgh
2015 Winter Exhibition,Gallery 10, Stafford St. Edinburgh
2015 Winter Exhibition,The Meffan Art Gallery, West High St. Forfar, Angus
2015 6 Month Residency & Research at Warburton Studios, India Buildings, Edinburgh
2014 Open Studios, Warburton Studios, India Buildings, Edinburgh
2014 3Harbours Arts Festival, East Lothian
2014 Translations,Moray Arts Centre, Findhorn, Forres
2013 Observations from The Back Room,Patriothall Gallery, Edinburgh
2013 Aspects of Leith II, Leith School of Art, Edinburgh
2012 Art Fair, Chelsea Town Hall, King's Road, London
2012 Exhibition of Contemporary Scottish Painting,The Vine Trust Barge, Leith
2012 North Light,Town House Museum, Dunbar, East Lothian
2012 The Making of It,The Old Ambulance Depot, [part of Embassy Annuale and Leithlate]
2012 The Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour, 132ndAnnual Open Exhibition
2011 Aspects of Leith I,Whitespace, Edinburgh
2011 Jolomo Finalists,Hannah McClure Centre, Abertay Dundee University, Dundee
2011 Jolomo Finalists,Bryce Hall, The Bank of Scotland, The Mound, Edinburgh
2011 Edgelands,Leith School of Art, Edinburgh
2011 Scratching the Surface II,Arts Complex, Edinburgh
2011 Scratching the Surface I, Patriothall Gallery, Edinburgh
2010 Edinburgh World Heritage, Charlotte Square, Edinburgh
2010 Sub lime Structures, MWB, Business Exchange, Edinburgh (Solo)
2010 Salon SansTitre,The Henderson Gallery,Edinburgh
2010 The Aspect Prize,Paisley Museum & Art Galleries, Paisley
2010 ARTSPACE2LET, Marchmont, Edinburgh
2009 RSA, 183rdAnnual Open Exhibition, The Mound, Edinburgh
2009 VENN, Gladstone’s Land, Edinburgh
2009 Inprint,The Maltings Arts Centre, Berwick upon Tweed, Print
2009 Colonel Mustard’s Tea Party,Scottish Arts Club, Edinburgh
2009 Film Strips Exhibition, The Filmhouse, Edinburgh
2008 Up The Stairs,Gladstone’s Land, Edinburgh
2008 Glass Ceiling,Drill Hall, Edinburgh
2007 Pulp Exhibition, Work on Paper, Chessel Gallery, Edinburgh
2007 New Works,Scottish Arts Club, Edinburgh
2007 Draw/Skateraw, Richard DeMarco’s Archive, East Lothian
Collections & Awards
Edinburgh Solicitor Property Centre
Private Collections: Scotland, Ireland, Germany, USA, Canada,
Jolomo Bank of Scotland Award 2011 (Finalist)
