Julie Allen CV
Statement
B. 1961
1979 - 1980 Stockport College, Art Foundation
1980 - 1983 Middlesex Polytechnic, BA hons. Graphic Design/Illustration
Drawing is the basis of all my work. My background is as an illustrator and I think my paintings are still quite illustrative although it is not my aim to be directly representational. With the birds and hares I try to capture the feeling and emotion of a particular place or time, but the quality of the marks and layers of texture are also integral to the work.
The mixed media paintings begin as a monoprint, where transparent layers of oil-based ink are rolled or painted onto a metal or perspex plate before being worked into with rags and brushes to create the textured image. The plate is then passed through an etching press to transfer the image onto dampened paper resulting in a single print, hence the name. I then work into the surface with paint and oil pastel to create the final painting. The monoprint process is the most painterly form of printmaking and allows great freedom in the expressive marks that are fundamental to my work. The final painting has a unique luminous quality that could not be achieved by simply painting directly on to paper.
I continue to be influenced by the rich colours and intricate detail of traditional Indian textiles as well as the subtle decorative qualities of Persian miniature painting.
Exhibitions
1983 Neil Street Gallery, London Association of Illustrators "Images 8"
1985 Stockport Town Hall, Exhibition of life drawing
1986 Manchester Creative Circle, Exhibition of Manchester Illustrators
1991 Dorothy Almond Gallery, Horwich, Bluecoat Etching Group Exhibition
1992 Business Design Centre, Preston Northwest Illustrators
1992 Stockport Art Gallery Open Exhibition
1992 Editions, Bluecoat Centre Liverpool Etching Group Exhibition
1992 Arts Intaglio, Manchester, Christmas and Summer shows (to 1993)
1994 Tib Lane Gallery, Manchester, Christmas and Summer shows (to 2007)
2002 Longden Gallery, Macclesfield, Solo exhibition
2002 Wendy Levy Contemporary Art, Manchester Summer Exhibition and Christmas Exhibition
(all to 2007)
2003 Manchester Art Show, Urbis (also 2004, 2005)
2003 The Sculpture Lounge, Holmfirth, Julie Allen paintings & Brendan Hasmondhalgh sculpture
2003 Parkview Gallery, Birmingham, Exhibition of Cheshire printmaking (also 04,05,06)
2003 Shire Hall Gallery, Stafford, Mixed exhibition
2004 Tib Lane Gallery, Manchester, Julie Allen & Anne Aspinall paintings and original prints
2004 Mill House Gallery, Parbold, Lancashire, Julie Allen & Anne Aspinall
2005 The Brindley, Cheshire, Cheshire Open Studios
2005 Parkview Gallery, Birmingham, Julie Allen, Anne Aspinall, Sue Henderson
2006 Regatta Gallery, Holt, Mixed exhibition
2006 River Gallery, Nailsworth, Mixed exhibition
