Tony Allain is an award-winning artist, instructor and author, recognised internationally for his expressive oil paintings, particularly of landscapes and seascapes. His work is renowned for its vibrant use of colour, light, and dynamic brushwork that captures the spirit and atmosphere of nature. Working in an alla prima style, Allain’s style is marked by loose, energetic brushstrokes that blend representational and abstract elements. His approach focuses on freedom, spontaneity, and the emotional power of colour, aiming to create art that resonates deeply with the viewer. Often inspired by the coastal landscapes of the UK, Allain combines bold colours and dramatic light to evoke mood and energy.
Tony is a member of a number of prestigious societies, including the Pastel Society UK and a member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists. He is an Eminent Pastelist of the International Association of Pastel Societies, and a Master of The Pastel Artists of New Zealand. His work can be found in many leading galleries as well as private and corporate collections worldwide. A regular contributor to the Pastel Journal and the Artist’s Magazine, his work has also featured in numerous books including The Landscape Painter’s Workbook, The Beautiful Landscape, and Paintings Outdoors.
Tony is represented by many galleries worldwide including Thompsons Gallery London, Algora Gallery New York, Trevor Victor Gallery in Australia, Flagstaff Gallery in New Zealand, and The Jetty Gallery Oban Scotland.
Allain’s work has been exhibited internationally including at the Pastel Society of America in New York, the Royal Society of Marine Artists in London, the International Pastel Societies exhibition Suzhou, China, and the Pastel Society UK at the Mall Galleries. He is collected by art lovers and private and corporate collectors worldwide.
Tony Allain has received multiple awards and honours in recognition of his work including The Nelson Tasman Open Art First Prize 2006, Second Prize Pastel Society of North Carolina, The Artist Magazine Award for the Pastel Society London, The Bronze Award for the International Association of Pastel Societies Chicago, The Charles Pears Award at The Royal Society of Marine Artists London, and The Award of Excellence with the International Association of Pastel Societies in Chicago USA.
Tony’s mastery of colour and light, along with his ability to communicate a deep emotional connection with the landscape, has made him a highly respected figure in contemporary British art.
“I am not interested in pure representation; my work is about responses to the moods and atmospheres generated by landscape, still life or interior. I take an everyday scene and, through a subtle approach and through focusing on light, colour and tone, I try to give the motif an elevated atmosphere. My subjects are often oriented around the mood of the sea, skies, harbours, ships and figures; I am constantly absorbing everything that is around me. I am interested in new ideas and art forms. My philosophy is that the more I work the more I discover.
Drawing is essential as a tool of discovery; Skill and mastery of technique are also essential, but only as a vocabulary and a means towards an idea. As Degas once said, “drawing is not about what one sees, it’s about what one makes others see”
