Countdown to Manawatu Art Expo

The Feilding & District Art Society

Just 13 days to go until Manawatū Art Expo begins at Palmerston North Conference and Function Centre. To count down to Manawatū Art Expo, we’re sharing the story of some of the artists exhibiting at this year’s event.

In our second Artist A Day post, we introduce you to Gill Allen. Working from her studio in the Horowhenua, Gill’s creative practice focuses on semi-abstracted landscapes and still life compositions. Her paintings are a mix of landscapes and flowers, drawn and painted in both full colour as well as black and white.

Gill considers soft pastel her main medium but says she also loves “dark line, inks”. She explains that her mark-making and drawing style emulate the movement and life found in nature and the natural landscape that surrounds her. This is a style she first began developing at art school - where she fell in love with the linear work of Vincent Van Gogh - but one she has developed and refined throughput her career.

Gill holds a BFA from Otago Art School, as well as a City and Guilds qualification in Further Education Adult Education. As well as seeing Gill’s work at this year’s Manawatū Art Expo, you can explore her art at gillallen.co.nz or follow her on Facebook @gillallenNZArtist.

To see more Artist a Day Posts, and to stay in the know about all things Manawatū Art Expo, make sure you 'Like' Feilding and District Art Society on Facebook.