Jennifer graduated in 1970 from Glasgow School of Art having specialised as a printmaker. She did not start painting and consistently exhibiting till the early '90s. Concurrent with this shift she also began the process that culminated in her becoming a practising and teaching Psychotherapist. She says this was not coincidental. She retired from her psychotherapy practice in 2016 and has continued to expand her painting practice, exhibiting nationally and internationally. She has work in private collections in Scotland, Wales, England, Germany and Australia.

“I find a profoundly necessary sensory and physical pleasure in the sheer process of making marks, of moving a pencil across paper, of laying one brush stroke of colour next to another, of manipulating and moulding material into a gesture or form. I therefore find it surprising that I do not intuitively work more abstractly and yet my compulsion to make marks to make meaning - to explain myself to myself - seems to demand a figurative and narrative mode.”

These processes are fundamentally self focused and introspective and also, in the search for identity and for making sense of self, there is a seeking to belong. Thence her visual explorations are intended for sharing - invitations to witness - desire for acknowledgment and identification with her inner world as something known, seen and understood.

 

Please use the form below to contact Jennifer Allan:

 

Born: Glasgow, Scotland.

Lives: Carmarthenshire, Wales.

 
Education:

1966 -1970, Glasgow School of Art (BA Fine Art).
 

Selected exhibitions 1994 to 2022

WELSH GROUP: 1996 - 2022 inclusive:
Participation in all Welsh Group shows including -
50th, 60th Celebratory Tours and Publications
National Museum of Wales, Cardiff / Bank of Ireland, Dublin / National Library of Wales,
Aberystwyth
70’s Series Celebratory Tour and Publication
Cynon Valley Museum / Mid Wales Art Centre / Senedd and Futures Galleries, Cardiff /
Oriel y Bont, South Glamorgan University / MoMA, Machynlleth / RCA, Conwy.
Joint and exchange projects with ISEA (Chicago and UK) BKK (Dusseldorf and UK) ;
European Parliament, Strasbourg; Celtic Connections, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow

FAMILY SHOWS :
Old Hall, Cowbridge, “A Family Affair :1995
St. Davids Hall, Cardiff, “Quartet” :1997
Lillie Art Gallery,Dumbartonshire, Scotland “Quartet”: 2001
 

TAITH CONTEMPORARY ARTS:
Orange Moon Gallery, Vienna: “ Cockaygne”: 2019
Studio Cennen, Llandielo: “Journey ‘: 2022
 

CELEBRATION OF CONTEMPORARY WELSH PAINTING
Andrew Lamont Gallery, Brecon 2019
 

OPEN SUBMISSION GROUP SHOWS:
National Eisteddfod: 1995/97
Aberystwyth Open, Aberystwyth Arts Centre: 1995
Essence of Wales, St Davids Hall, Cardiff: 1995/97
Look Without Prejudice, St. Davids Hall, Cardiff:1997
Swansea Open, Glyn Vivien, Swansea: 2017
RWA 168 Open, Bristol : 2020/21
RCA Open, Conwy: 2021
Figurative Art Now (FBA) Open, Mall Galleries online: 2021
 

WOMENS ARTS ASSOCIATION : 1994/95/97/98/ 2016/17/18/19/22
Howard Gardens, Cardiff (solo show ”Not Drowning but Waving”)
Old Library, Cardiff
Jacob’s Wharf, Cardiff
Washington Gallery, Cardiff
St. David's Hall, Cardiff
Arts Central, Barry