Richard Allen

Born in Newbury, Berkshire in 1964, an Art Foundation Course at Brighton was followed by a Degree in Graphic/Illustration at Kingston Polytechnic. Starting as a freelance illustrator in advertising, publishing and newspapers, my work has gradually drifted towards my main interest of birds and wildlife, especially after winning "British Birds" magazine, "Bird Illustrator of the Year" in 1993. A keen birder from an early age, the bird rich estuaries and marshes of the Essex coast where I live have provided an endless source of inspiration and fuelled a passion for field-sketching. Travels to China, USA, Southern Asia, Senegal and many parts of Europe have revealed a wealth of new subject matter, and I’ve filled many sketchbooks with observations of wildlife and landscape. This essential field experience has proved most useful when illustrating bird identification guides. Publications include, "Concise Birds of the Western Palearctic"(Oxford University Press), "The Handbook of Birds of the World"(Lynx Editions), "A Field Guide to the Birds of South East Asia"(New Holland) and the recently published "Sunbirds and Flowerpeckers"(A&C Blacks). I work mainly in watercolour, enjoying the vibrancy of the colours, and also in scraperboard, producing a woodcut style. Current projects include a book on Birds of Paradise, illustrating a regular gardening column in "The Times" newspaper, stamps for the Solomon Islands, and work for the RSPB. Regularly exhibited at the Society of Wildlife Artists exhibition, Mall Galleries, London, Wildlife Art Gallery, Lavenham, Suffolk, Abberton Wildfowl Centre, Colchester, Essex and the British Birdfair, Rutland Water.

Visit Richards website - http://www.richardallenillustrator.com/