Richard Allen

Originally from Newbury, Berkshire, Richard studied an Art Foundation Course at Brighton, which was followed by a Degree in Graphic/Illustration at Kingston Polytechnic. After graduating in 1987 he became a freelance illustrator working mainly in scraperboard for advertising, publishing, packaging and newspapers. However, Richard's work has gradually drifted towards his main interest of birds and wildlife especially after winning “British Birds – Bird Illustrator of the year” in 1993. Moving to Essex in 1988, and more recently to  Wivenhoe, the bird rich estuaries and marshes of the Essex coast have provided an endless source of inspiration and fueled a passion for field-sketching. He enjoys the immediacy of working directly from nature, trying to capture the life and vitality of wild birds, and the patterns of plumage, light, water and foliage.

This essential field experience has proved invaluable when working on paintings in the studio, or when illustrating bird identification guides. Richard's 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 solely illustrated “Sunbirds and Flowerpeckers” (Bloomsbury). Such work has led Richard on exciting trips to China, USA, Southern Asia, Senegal and many parts of Europe where he has filled many sketchbooks with observations of wildlife and landscapes.