Harold Allanson

Harold Allanson holds a life-long interest in drawing and painting, but didn’t express his talent fully until he took an early retirement. He then seriously delved into his initial chosen interests, drawing and painting, and hasn’t looked back. Much of Harold’s stimulation comes from the area in which he lives: the inspiring scenery of the West Coast of British Columbia. His realistic watercolours depict boats and the people connected to them, the aged, battered tugs that still provide substance for skipper and crew, and the older fishing boats that are quickly disappearing, along with the fish they catch. Harold is motivated to paint the past, and to capture the images of a quickly vanishing life-style. But the artist’s interests are not just limited to boats: he is just as likely to produce paintings of people, flowers or any other subject that might strike his fancy. Harold's paintings are bold, realistic works often expressed in strong colours, revealing water reflections late in the day, early morning sunlight or deep shadows; the sort of painting that will catch the viewer’s eye from a distance. Harold paints for his own personal enjoyment and hopes others will find pleasure from his work as well.