Tom Allan
- Work
- Biography
For me sculpture in stone has been a passion for thirty-five years – I see it as an expressive art form, shaping stone to convey emotion, as a painter uses colour and form. I make both figurative and abstract sculptures.
Through the stone I try to convey ideas and feelings, and to produce an emotional reaction in the viewer. My approach unites the immediacy of direct carving by manual methods with the speed and extra facilities of power tools. The challenge is to bring modern techniques and idioms to an ancient art. The majority of my sculptures are on a domestic scale, to be lived with in the home or outdoors in the garden.
Working in different types of stone has the fascination of exploring materials which are thousands or millions of years old, and making something new from them. Stone sculpture is the most ancient art form of all, and yet it still lends itself to innovation.
I continually try to extend my knowledge of the techniques and inspirations of stone and marble sculpture, by working with other sculptors when possible, by taking part in symposia in many parts of the world, and also by teaching what I know, which is also a way of learning more.
Through the stone I try to convey ideas and feelings, and to produce an emotional reaction in the viewer. My approach unites the immediacy of direct carving by manual methods with the speed and extra facilities of power tools. The challenge is to bring modern techniques and idioms to an ancient art. The majority of my sculptures are on a domestic scale, to be lived with in the home or outdoors in the garden.
Working in different types of stone has the fascination of exploring materials which are thousands or millions of years old, and making something new from them. Stone sculpture is the most ancient art form of all, and yet it still lends itself to innovation.
I continually try to extend my knowledge of the techniques and inspirations of stone and marble sculpture, by working with other sculptors when possible, by taking part in symposia in many parts of the world, and also by teaching what I know, which is also a way of learning more.
Making sculpture since 1977, full-time since 2000. I studied at Glasgow Art School, and later in Carrara, Italy.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2016 Pittenweem
2015 Glasgow
2013 Edinburgh
2011 Glasgow
2011 Leith
2010 London
2009 Kirkintilloch
2005 Pittenweem
2005 Stratford
2002 Glasgow
2002 Pittenweem
2001 London
Selected Group Exhibitions include
Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts (since 1979)
Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh (since 1984)
Visual Arts Scotland, Edinburgh. (since 1994)
Paisley Art Institute (since 1995)
Thomson’s Gallery, Marylebone, London
Menier Gallery and Espacio Galleries, London 2012
Sculpture Parks
Caol Ruadh, Argyll
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey
Chichester Cathedral
Fresh Air, Quenington, Cirencester
Newby Hall, Yorkshire
Leicester University
Elemental Sculpture Park, Cirencester
Mythic Sculpture Garden, Dartmoor
Mount Pleasant Sculpture Park, Cheshire
Sculpture Symposia
2011 and 2010 Big Art Symposiums, Kirkcudbright,
2010 Puerta Vallarta, Mexico
2009 Kormend, Hungary
2007 and 2006 “Clach ” international symposiums, Scotland
2007 Calgary, Alberta, Canada
2004 ,Bajna Bashta, Serbia
Other Activities and Awards
2016 Elected Professional Member of Society of Scottish Artists (SSA)
2012 Beltane Studios Sculpture Prize, Paisley Art Institute
2011 Glasgow Art Club Fellowship Prize, VAS exhibition
2010 Awarded Diploma of Paisley Art Institute (PAI)
2006 Elected Member of the Royal British Sculptors Society (MRBS).
Winner, Visual Arts Scotland Exhibition:
SSWA Prize, and Scottish Arts Club Prize.
2005 Winner, Paisley Art Institute, Best Carved Sculpture.
2004 Curated and exhibited in “Carrara to Glasgow”, sculptors from five counties, RGI Kelly Gallery, Glasgow.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2016 Pittenweem
2015 Glasgow
2013 Edinburgh
2011 Glasgow
2011 Leith
2010 London
2009 Kirkintilloch
2005 Pittenweem
2005 Stratford
2002 Glasgow
2002 Pittenweem
2001 London
Selected Group Exhibitions include
Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts (since 1979)
Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh (since 1984)
Visual Arts Scotland, Edinburgh. (since 1994)
Paisley Art Institute (since 1995)
Thomson’s Gallery, Marylebone, London
Menier Gallery and Espacio Galleries, London 2012
Sculpture Parks
Caol Ruadh, Argyll
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, Romsey
Chichester Cathedral
Fresh Air, Quenington, Cirencester
Newby Hall, Yorkshire
Leicester University
Elemental Sculpture Park, Cirencester
Mythic Sculpture Garden, Dartmoor
Mount Pleasant Sculpture Park, Cheshire
Sculpture Symposia
2011 and 2010 Big Art Symposiums, Kirkcudbright,
2010 Puerta Vallarta, Mexico
2009 Kormend, Hungary
2007 and 2006 “Clach ” international symposiums, Scotland
2007 Calgary, Alberta, Canada
2004 ,Bajna Bashta, Serbia
Other Activities and Awards
2016 Elected Professional Member of Society of Scottish Artists (SSA)
2012 Beltane Studios Sculpture Prize, Paisley Art Institute
2011 Glasgow Art Club Fellowship Prize, VAS exhibition
2010 Awarded Diploma of Paisley Art Institute (PAI)
2006 Elected Member of the Royal British Sculptors Society (MRBS).
Winner, Visual Arts Scotland Exhibition:
SSWA Prize, and Scottish Arts Club Prize.
2005 Winner, Paisley Art Institute, Best Carved Sculpture.
2004 Curated and exhibited in “Carrara to Glasgow”, sculptors from five counties, RGI Kelly Gallery, Glasgow.
Collections
- 2016
- Tom Allan
- Recent sculptures
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