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Gordon Allen
at the Strand |
April
1st saw the start of the first exhibition of Gordon Allen at
the Strand Gallery having had a successful career as a professional
local artist for over 35 years. |
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Born
1945 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, he grew up on his fathers' farm
in Ebbesbourne Wake, Wiltshire and started painting whilst at
school where he sold drawings of pop stars to his friends. It
was whilst on holiday at Megavissey, Cornwall he met the artist
Jack Baron, who taught the 11 year old techniques of drawing
and watercolour painting. |
At
16 he left school and moved to Brixham with his parents where
he joined Brixham Art Society and got write ups in the local
press and Western Morning News, saying that he was "highly
recommended" for such a young person.
Gordon
says, " I started to develop my artistic skills whilst still
a teenager, and into my early 20's, and I initially sold my
work to the public from the main Brixham Harbour Quay."
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However
it was a little time before Gordon realised his ambition to
become an artist as he first entered the building industry carrying
out bricklaying and other building work. At this time he also
met and married his wife Sally raising three sons, Paul, Thomas
and Benjamin. In his spare time, he painted watercolours , selling
them from small gift shops in the town, before he saw the Brixham
Artists at their easels in the Harbourside, and realised he
could sell his paintings directly like this. |
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big influence in the early years was the artist, Don Hughes,
on the harbourside when Gordon first started, they painting
together side by side. Don taught him how to be loose and creative;
not to paint what was there, but almost a 'caricature' of the
harbour, not reality; Gordon uses "the example of painting
a mast, when painted coming towards you, to exaggerate the perspective".
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Since
1967 he became a full- time artist and began his ongoing relationship
with the Strand Gallery. Gordon was a founder member of this
gallery with Bill Stockman and it has been used by many local
artists as a studio and place to exhibit their work. Find out
more about the Strand Gallery by clicking on here to our .Featured
Business.
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Gordon
has enjoyed painting the Devon countryside, harbours and coastline
in a variety of mediums including oils, watercolours, and
acrylic paints. His varied styles are captivating and evocative
and are revealed in this exhibition which focuses more on
man's relationship to the sea. Especially in his paintings
of the sea he captures different moods through attention to
the dramatic and subtle depiction of light.
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The
centre piece of the exhibition is the Battle of Trafalgar with
this large epic involving Gordon in much research as he presents
a detailed account of the climax of the battle. Gordon said
that he'd done a few historical paintings over time, and being
the anniversary of the battle and his fascination with the sea
he decided to pursue this scene, which the gallery also sells
as a print at £99 or framed and mounted at £199.
Reasonable prices for a prolific artist who now has waiting
times for a commission of up to a year with such a high demand
for his work.
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The
exhibition which lasts throughout April is open at the Strand
Gallery between 10am and 5pm and as well as in this exhibition
finished paintings by Gordon can be seen on the harbourside
display boards in the famous "Artists Corner" area
out on the slipway in front of the gallery, weather permitting.
His work is also on display inside the gallery where he works
all year round.
For
more of Gordon's work click on......www.strandartgallery.com
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