Biog
Alan McGowan was born in East Kilbride, near Glasgow, in 1964. He studied at Edinburgh College of Art and did a post-graduate at Newcastle Polytechnic.
From 1987 to 1996 he worked mainly as an illustrator producing drawings, paintings and portraits for The Sunday Times, The Observer, The Telegraph, The Independant, Orion Publishing, Canongate Books, McMillan publishing, Scholastic press USA, and many others. During this period he also taught illustration, drawing and printmaking at The University of Northumbria, and as a visiting lecturer to Duncan of Jordanstone School of Art in Dundee, Edinburgh College of Art and Hull School of Art.
In 1997 he produced a suite of large scale charcoal drawings as illustrations to “Faust” by Goethe (see picture gallery for images) which was exhibited and toured within the UK.
Since that time he has been more actively involved in exhibiting painting and his works appear in private collections in the UK and in the USA, Norway, Switzerland and Ireland. He is currently based in Edinburgh and his work is represented by Gallery Heinzel in Aberdeen.
SOLO
2004 “Transfiguration”, Merz Gallery, Broughton Street, Edinburgh.
2001 New Paintings at Vic Naylor, St Johns Road, Clerkenwell, London.
2000 "Faust" touring exhibition at Matthew Gallery University of Edinburgh.
Squires Gallery, University of Northumbria, Newcastle upon Tyne.
EICG Gallery, Hull School of Art.
1989 “Process of Illumination” Hilside Gallery, Edinburgh.
GROUP
International
2005 “Situated Self”, City Art Museum Helsinki. April 22nd until 6th June.
2005 International School of Drawing, Painting and Sculpture Gallery, Monte Castello di Vibio, Umbria, Italy.
2004 “Copa Dell Arte”, Quadrum Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal.
2002 Contemporary Art International Exchange Exhibition, Prague Congress Centre, Czech Republic.
2002 Invitational Exhibition, Seoul National Institute of Technology, South Korea.
United Kingdom
2006 Glasgow Art Fair
London Art Fair
Summer Exhibition, Gallery Heinzal, Aberdeen.
“A Colony of Artists”, Abbeyhill Colonies, Edinburgh.
2005 Glasgow Art Fair
London Art Fair, Islington, with Flying Colours Gallery.
2004 “William Bowie Award” winner, Paisley Institute Annual Open.
Visual Arts Scotland, Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh.
Christmas show, Gallery Heinzel, Aberdeen
“Art London”, with Patrick Davies Contemporary Art, Chelsea Art Fair, London.
“Figure and Face”, Orleans House Gallery Open Exhibition, Richmond, London.
2003 VAS Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh.
“New Faces Exhibition”, Gallery Heinzel, Aberdeen
2002 “Visual Arts Scotland” Annual Exhibition.
2001 “Wood Award” winner, Visual Arts Scotland, Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh.
2000 "Images" Royal College of Art, London.
1995 “Mythologies”, Netherbow Arts Centre, Edinburgh.
1991 “Munch And Blake Were Shanners”, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh.
RESIDENCIES
The International School for Drawing, Painting and Sculpture, montecastello de Vibio, Umbria, Italy (one month). May 2005.
Research Fellow at the University of Northumbria, 1999-2003
AWARDS
“Wood Award” , Visual Arts Scotland Annual Exhibition, Royal Scottish academy, 2001
“William Bowie Award”, Paisley Institute Annual Exhibition, 2004.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Visual Arts Scotland, 2001