Elaine Allison
Trained as a sculptor, and more recently pursuing an interest in printmaking, the subject matter, materials and processes of my work are diverse. Recurring themes include identity and the family tree, the natural and the built environment, and a desire to preserve and promote objects discarded, lost or undervalued. The processes I use range from bronze casting to embroidery and just about everything in between, with the choice of materials determined by the story I am trying to tell.
Career path: I graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art in Dundee in 1998 with a BA Honours in Fine Art (Sculpture). After graduation I spent three months in Italy on a drawing scholarship. I have been involved in a number of projects with artists from various European countries and have participated in projects in Norway, Germany and Scotland. In addition to my own practice, I work collaboratively with artist Patricia Bray on site specific installation projects and we have undertaken artists' residencies in Norway, Germany and the USA (see under Allison and Bray in the artists search)
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2016 - BRANCH LINES, Burgh Halls, Linlithgow
2015 - TREE, The Shores, Plockton
2014 - LOST AND FOUND, The Meffan Gallery, Forfar
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 - CONSTRUCT joint exhibition with Chris Sleath, Upright Gallery, Barclay Terrace, Edinburgh
2022 - INNER LANDSCAPE Art@47, High Street, Pittenweem
2021 - SOLACE Edinburgh PrIntmakers, Castel Mills, Edinburgh
2021 - INSECTARIUM - FASCINATION AND FEAR Scottish Ornithologists' Club, Aberlady
2019 - TIME SPENT AMONG TREES Society of Scottish Artists, Meffan Gallery, Forfar
2019 - UTOPIA - WHAT'S YOURS? Society of Scottish Artists, Gracefield Art Centre, Dumfries, then Kirkcudbright Galleries
2016 (2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2007) - SOCIETY OF SCOTTISH ARTISTS Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh2015
2016 - EMPIRE, The Old Ropeworks, Montrose
2015 (2014, 2012, 2011, 2010) - RSA OPEN, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
2014 - WIR SIND PAUL - ODER DAS UNPERFEKTE PARADIES, Neues Kunsthaus, Ahrenshoop, Germany (with Patricia Bray)
2014 - RECOLLECTION, Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton, Devon
2013 - Visual Arts Scotland Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
2012 (2011, 2010) - Fisher Gallery Summer Exhibition, Fisher Gallery , Pitttenweem, Fife
2011 - RECOLLECT, Fisher Gallery 2, Pittenweem, Fife
2010 - FORMS OF NARRATIVE, Perthshire Visual Arts Forum, Dunkeld, Perthshire
2009 - ON SCREEN, Perth Concert Hall, Perth
2009 - Pittenweem Art Festival, Pittenweem, Fife
2009 - RSA SPRING OPEN, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
2009 - SCENE 1, SCENE WITHOUT SCENE, Threshold Art Space, Perth Theatre, Perth
2006 (2004, 2001) - Royal Scottish Academy Annual Exhibition, RSA, Edinburgh
2005 - Magazine - Contemporary Scottish Art, Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, Edinburgh
2003 - Thompson's Gallery, Marylebone High Street, London
2002 - Royal Glasgow Institute Annual Exhibition, McLellan Galleries, Glasgow
2001 - A Spatial Odyssey, The Leith Gallery, Edinburgh
2001 - Glasgow Art Fair (with Frames Contemporary Gallery, Perth)
2000 - Connections, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
2000 - One year on, The Leith Gallery, Edinburgh
2000 - Visual Arts Scotland, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
CURATED PROJECTS
2016 - LICHTSPIELE, a site specific installation with artist Patricia Bray, Schärding, Austria
2010 - NESTING, a site specific installation with artist Patricia Bray at Heartwood (woodland sculpture trail), Blairgowrie, Perthshire
2010 - NEW STRAINS, with Patricia Bray, Coast Festival, Banff
2009 - HOMELAND 2009, with Patricia Bray, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
2009 - MISTRESS OF THE HOUSE, a site specific installation with artist Patricia Bray, Cupar Arts Festival, Cupar, Fife
2008 - CANOPY, a site specific installation with artist Patricia Bray, Perthshire Visual Arts Forum, Dunkeld, Perthshire
2008 - SSA/Stavanger Capital of Culture 2008 North Sea Project, with Patricia Bray, Attic Salt, Thistle Street North East Lane, Edinburgh
2007 - SURVEY -Contemporary Sculpture from Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, with Patricia Bray, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh Projects
2007 - Gift / Gave, - a site specific installation with artist Patricia Bray, Sand, Norway
2006 - Homeland - a site specific installation with artist Patricia Bray, Sculpture Space, Utica, New York, USA
2005 - Shift - site specific installation with artist Patricia Bray, Newhailes - a National Trust for Scotland property, Musselburgh, East Lothian
2004 - Path/ways - a site specific installation with Patricia Bray, Culross Palace - a National Trust for Scotland property, Culross Palace, Fife
2003 - New Strains - site specific installation with Patricia Bray, Victorian greenhouse at Lauriston Castle, Lauriston Castle, Edinburgh
2000 - Between the Waters, Hanover, Germany
PRIZES, AWARDS & FUNDING
2015 - Visual Arts Award, City of Edinburgh Council
2014 - The Southfield Prize, Society of Scottish Artists Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh
2013 - Meffan Gallery and Museum Solo Exhibition Prize, 2013, Society of Scottish Artists Exhibition, RSA, Edinburgh
2013 - Hope Scott Trust award
2012 - Edinburgh Laser Cutting Studio Prize, Society of Scottish Artists Exhibition, RSA, Edinburgh
2012 - Visual Arts Award, City of Edinburgh Council
2010 - Visual Arts Award, City of Edinburgh Council
2008 - CANOPY – Scottish Arts Council (with Patricia Bray)
2007 - SSA Website Award, SSA Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy
2006 - Abbeyview Arts Project – Fife Council (with Patricia Bray)
2006 - Nexus – Fife Council (with Patricia Bray)
2006 - Sculpture Space Residency – SAC (with Patricia Bray)
2005 - SHIFT – East Lothian Council, SAC (with Patricia Bray)
2004 - PATH[WAYS] – Fife Council (with Patricia Bray)
2003 - NEW STRAINS – Scottish Arts Council, The Hope Scott Trust, City of Edinburgh Council and Fife Council (with Patricia Bray)
1999 - NS Macfarlane Charitable Trust Award, RSA Annual Exhibition
1998 - John Kinross Scholarship
1998 - Chalmers-Jervise Prize, RSA Students Exhibition