Colin Allbrook
Biography
Colin Allbrook is an artist based in North Devon, working in oils and watercolour. Born in Barnet, Hertfordshire, he worked at a commercial art studio in London from 1971 to 1975 while attending evening classes at St Martin’s School of Art.
His work has been exhibited widely across the UK, including with the Royal West of England Academy, Royal Watercolour Society, Royal Society of Oil Painters and the Sunday Times Watercolour Competition. He has received numerous awards, including the Terence Cuneo Medal from the Society of Equestrian Artists, the Rowland Hilder Award and the Turner Watercolour Award. His work is held in the collections of Daler-Rowney, Burton Art Gallery & Museum and the Marquis of Salisbury, among others. He is a member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists and the South West Academy of Fine and Applied Arts, and an Honorary Member of the Society of Equestrian Artists.
Artist Statement
My work is often based on the life and activity of the West Country, where I live. This might be on the river below my house or among the valleys, fields and meadows with their livestock and growing crops. A short drive away is the coast, with its cliffs, broad sandy beaches, estuaries and small harbours full of boats. Higher up are the moors, with their deep combes and valleys. All these provide an endless source for my work.
I spend time observing and recording the light and atmosphere of these places, from the way it shines across an estuary or reveals the fissures and gullies of the cliffs, to the movement of people, animals and boats. I work directly from the scene, plein air, or from drawings and studies, often using photographs as further reference.
Working in oils or watercolour, I build up layers of washes to create depth and delicate colour. Washing out, scratching and sometimes using body colour help give the surface a sense of patina and interest. I try to recreate the atmosphere and feeling of the observed moment.