ALLAN MARTIN
ALLAN MARTIN
ABOUT
A shift in direction…
"With both parents being art teachers and artists, art has always been around me, remains a constant in my life, a core aspect of my creative interests and who I am. I adored studying a design discipline at art school, and wanted that rationale as my way forward. The subsequent creative challenges and varied experiences opened to me by the graphic design led direction have been truly valuable and enjoyable.
However, I always intended to explore painting more fully. I like where it leads and relish the challenge. I wanted to find time to paint. Now I have, and it feels right."
Born in 1956 in Eaglesham, Scotland, Allan left Glasgow School of Art in 1978 with a Diploma of Art in Printed Textiles and a travelling scholarship. Work in a graphic design studio in Glasgow followed until the latter part of 1981 when he moved to London where he still lives and works.
Once in London, he worked as a decorative paint specialist, with one project used as the front cover and feature article for Interiors Magazine. At the same time, his drawings were brought to the attention of a band, and he was commissioned to work exclusively for them as illustrator and designer when they signed to EMI. Having found his path into graphic design once more, he continued with this direction as a freelancer - music and fashion being the main focus. One highlight was working with the band The Psychedelic Furs and his close creative collaboration with Richard Butler, their lead singer.
For most of the last decade he worked in collaboration with close friend Annie Lennox. Together, their exploration of photography evolved into a series of portraits with Annie as the subject. Images were used for her album ‘Bare,’ worldwide press and publicity, merchandise and an exhibition in New York, which was curated by Allan.
Their collaboration evolved in Allan becoming Annie Lennox's visual director and designer, working on further albums, websites, videos and latterly collating and recording her considerable archive. Their portraits were included in exhibitions at the V&A, The Lowry Centre, Aberdeen Art Gallery and The Scottish National Portrait Gallery which has acquired two photographic portraits for their permanent collection.
His first solo exhibition of paintings was at Gallery One, Vyner Street, London in May/June 2012. Throughout the exhibition, the work’s emotional resonance was often mentioned. Through the recommendation of Fru Tholstrup, then Director, Haunch of Venison, London, and now Director, Sotheby’s S|2 gallery, one work, These Dark Woods | Base, was acquired for the permanent collection of Babington House, part of Soho House group (curators Francesca Gavin & Jonathan Yeo).
Among the various paintings sold to date, Annie Lennox purchased four of the Who She Is series, and Michele Clapton, costume designer for Game of Thrones, The Secret Garden and The Devil’s Whore bought a key painting from this same series. Other paintings are held in private collections.
Allan exhibited at The Other Art Fair in November 2012 and April 2013. Initially included in a small number of preliminary artists chosen, the selection committee said of Allan :...“the charisma and individuality of your work made you stand out from a very strong field of applicants”. His work was also singled out for praise by art critic Rodrigo Canete.
Subsequently his work has been exhibited by galleries at art fairs including The London Art Fair and also included in gallery shows. His recent work has again met with great critical acclaim and in April 2015, Francesca Gavin, in her role as curator for Soho House Art Collections, invited him to be one of the artists whose work is included in their new Farm opening in Oxfordshire in June. She selected not one but two paintings, These Dark Woods | Arena and We Are Magnificent | Sector.
Allan has works in the permanent collection of Soho Farmhouse Oxfordshire and Babington House, Somerset as well as in private collections worldwide.
KEY MOMENTS
2020
ING Discerning Eye
2019
ING Discerning Eye three paintings selected for their exhibitions in the Mall Galleries, London, in November
2018
Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year. Allan was offered a place in the landscape challenge. The initial challenge took place in Inverary, Scotland, broadcast as Episode 6 of the series. He won this first challenge which led to the semi-final in Felixstowe. From this he was selected as one of only three finalists taken into the series final in Greenwich.
2017
Hôtel de Crillon, Paris. Fru Tholstrup, working with writer and curator Jane Neal, co-curated a collection of nearly 900 contemporary works for the iconic hotel. A total of 69 of Allan’s works were acquired, nine paintings and sixty prints (from four original paintings). Fru commented that having been asked to curate the project he was one of the first artists she thought to include.
2016
Shortlisted for both the National Open Art Competition and Contemporary British Painting Prize
2015
Lane House Arts Gallery, Bath. Solo show THESE DARK WOODS and other works June – August
Two paintings acquired for the Soho Farmhouse Collection.
One of the collaborative portraits of Annie Lennox acquired for the Scottish National Portrait Gallery permanent collection displayed at the introduction to a new exhibition Collecting Now. Chosen to hang next to a large Ken Currie work, the curator explained… "The Ken Currie work is a large and powerful painting. Not many works could hold their own next to it but the photograph of Annie is really strong and looks terrific in this position. It is hung so it can be seen alone at a distance from the far end of the gallery." The exhibition ran from May through to 20 September 2015. Following his collaboration with singer and activist Annie Lennox, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery acquired two of their portraits for the permanent collection.
Click here to see a Catalogue of all Allan's work
Once in London, he worked as a decorative paint specialist, with one project used as the front cover and feature article for Interiors Magazine. At the same time, his drawings were brought to the attention of a band, and he was commissioned to work exclusively for them as illustrator and designer when they signed to EMI. Having found his path into graphic design once more, he continued with this direction as a freelancer - music and fashion being the main focus. One highlight was working with the band The Psychedelic Furs and his close creative collaboration with Richard Butler, their lead singer.
For most of the last decade he worked in collaboration with close friend Annie Lennox. Together, their exploration of photography evolved into a series of portraits with Annie as the subject. Images were used for her album ‘Bare,’ worldwide press and publicity, merchandise and an exhibition in New York, which was curated by Allan.
Their collaboration evolved in Allan becoming Annie Lennox's visual director and designer, working on further albums, websites, videos and latterly collating and recording her considerable archive. Their portraits were included in exhibitions at the V&A, The Lowry Centre, Aberdeen Art Gallery and The Scottish National Portrait Gallery which has acquired two photographic portraits for their permanent collection.
His first solo exhibition of paintings was at Gallery One, Vyner Street, London in May/June 2012. Throughout the exhibition, the work’s emotional resonance was often mentioned. Through the recommendation of Fru Tholstrup, then Director, Haunch of Venison, London, and now Director, Sotheby’s S|2 gallery, one work, These Dark Woods | Base, was acquired for the permanent collection of Babington House, part of Soho House group (curators Francesca Gavin & Jonathan Yeo).
Among the various paintings sold to date, Annie Lennox purchased four of the Who She Is series, and Michele Clapton, costume designer for Game of Thrones, The Secret Garden and The Devil’s Whore bought a key painting from this same series. Other paintings are held in private collections.
Allan exhibited at The Other Art Fair in November 2012 and April 2013. Initially included in a small number of preliminary artists chosen, the selection committee said of Allan :...“the charisma and individuality of your work made you stand out from a very strong field of applicants”. His work was also singled out for praise by art critic Rodrigo Canete.
Subsequently his work has been exhibited by galleries at art fairs including The London Art Fair and also included in gallery shows. His recent work has again met with great critical acclaim and in April 2015, Francesca Gavin, in her role as curator for Soho House Art Collections, invited him to be one of the artists whose work is included in their new Farm opening in Oxfordshire in June. She selected not one but two paintings, These Dark Woods | Arena and We Are Magnificent | Sector.
Allan has works in the permanent collection of Soho Farmhouse Oxfordshire and Babington House, Somerset as well as in private collections worldwide.
KEY MOMENTS
2020
ING Discerning Eye
2019
ING Discerning Eye three paintings selected for their exhibitions in the Mall Galleries, London, in November
2018
Sky Arts Landscape Artist of the Year. Allan was offered a place in the landscape challenge. The initial challenge took place in Inverary, Scotland, broadcast as Episode 6 of the series. He won this first challenge which led to the semi-final in Felixstowe. From this he was selected as one of only three finalists taken into the series final in Greenwich.
2017
Hôtel de Crillon, Paris. Fru Tholstrup, working with writer and curator Jane Neal, co-curated a collection of nearly 900 contemporary works for the iconic hotel. A total of 69 of Allan’s works were acquired, nine paintings and sixty prints (from four original paintings). Fru commented that having been asked to curate the project he was one of the first artists she thought to include.
2016
Shortlisted for both the National Open Art Competition and Contemporary British Painting Prize
2015
Lane House Arts Gallery, Bath. Solo show THESE DARK WOODS and other works June – August
Two paintings acquired for the Soho Farmhouse Collection.
One of the collaborative portraits of Annie Lennox acquired for the Scottish National Portrait Gallery permanent collection displayed at the introduction to a new exhibition Collecting Now. Chosen to hang next to a large Ken Currie work, the curator explained… "The Ken Currie work is a large and powerful painting. Not many works could hold their own next to it but the photograph of Annie is really strong and looks terrific in this position. It is hung so it can be seen alone at a distance from the far end of the gallery." The exhibition ran from May through to 20 September 2015. Following his collaboration with singer and activist Annie Lennox, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery acquired two of their portraits for the permanent collection.
Click here to see a Catalogue of all Allan's work
SELECTED WORKS
CURRENT EXHIBITIONS (Click for full details)
PAST EXHIBITIONS (Click for full details)
