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Frank Drummond Allison (1883-1951)

 

1883   Born March 29 to Frank Octavius Allison and Mary Sara(h) Bonsall Kaye

 

1897   First art instruction from Florence Standen Kaye (his mother's youngest sister) who had studied art for two years in London, England.

 

1900   Entered into the employ of the Bank of Montreal in Saint John, New Brunswick

The next10- 15 years were spent traveling between Montreal, New York and Saint John. During this time he studies in Montreal under Wilfred Molson Barnes. R.C.A. and Maurice Galbraith Cullen, R.C.A.

 

1915   Royal Canadian Academy Exhibition, Art Association of Montreal, 18 November – 18 December

 

1916   Managed the Army Pa,y Bank of Montreal, Trafalgar Square, London, England.

 

1919   Entered the employ of Dillion Reed Company, a large New York bond house

 

During the 1920's he studied with John F. Carlson , N.A. at Woodstock New Jersey, (and lived at least part of the time, at Dobby's Ferry, NY, which was later to become known as an artist's colony)

 

“ I recall him saying the Dobby's Ferry was one of his happiest times – profitable employment with enough free time to devote to painting”. (From the reminiscences of Gail B. Pipes, the artist's first cousin).

 

In the late 1920's an inheritance allowed him to devote his entire time to serious painting.

 

1929   Travelled and studied with George Elmer Browne, N.A. in southern Europe and northern Africa.

 

1930-1   Known to be in southern Europe (Italian Riviera) and London, England.

 

1931   Royal Canadian Academy Exhibition, Art Association of Montreal, 19 November – 20 December.

 

1933   By this time had returned to Canada on a full time basis.

 

Spring exhibition, Art Association of Montreal – (Jessie Dow prize for best watercolour)

 

Life Member American Watercolour Society.

 

Royal Canadian Academy Exhibition, Art Gallery of Toronto, 18 November – 18 December.

 

Solo Exhibition, Fine Art Galleries of T. Eaton Company, Montreal, November

 

American Watercolour Society exhibitions, New York, November.

 

From this time on, he traveled extensively in eastern Canada sketching and painting.

 

1935   Rented a studio on Prince William Street, Saint John, New Brunswick

 

Painting by Artists of the Maritime Provinces: An exhibition assembled by the Maritime Art Association, 1935-36

 

Solo Exhibition of 16 works at Babcock Gallery, New York took place in the period.

 

1938   Royal Canadian Academy Exhibition, Art Gallery of Toronto, 18 November – 18 December

 

1939   Royal Canadian Academy Exhibition, Art Association of Montreal, 16 November – 16 December

 

1940   Represented New Brunswick in an exhibition of the International Business Machines Corporation. Collection at the Canadian Nation Exhibition, Toronto, 23 August – 7 September, and Vancouver.

 

1945   Second inheritance allowed him independence to dedicate himself entirely to painting.

 

1949   January 27, correspondence with Mary Hashay, who was compiling information for Maritime Artists Volume 1 , “Have exhibited in Montreal, New York, Boston, Philadelphia and London, as well as through cities of the mid-west United States”

 

He suffered a stroke, which seriously affected his speech and use of his hands.

 

1951   Died 18 July, Saint John, New Brunswick