Alison McKenzie facts for kids

Alison McKenzie was a talented British artist. She was known for both her paintings and her unique prints. She was born on August 30, 1907, and passed away in 1982.

About Alison McKenzie

Alison McKenzie was born in Bombay (now called Mumbai) in India. Her parents were from Scotland. She went to school in England from 1921 to 1925.

Her Art Education

Alison studied art at the Glasgow School of Art for four years. While she was there, she won a special award called the Fra Newbery medal. In 1929, she moved to London. She went to the Grosvenor School of Modern Art to learn wood engraving. This is a way of making prints by carving designs into wood. Her teacher was a famous artist named Iain Macnab.

Working as an Artist

Alison also created art for businesses. For example, she designed posters for a railway company called the London and North Eastern Railway. In 1937, she drew pictures for a special edition of a book by John Milton. The book was called On the Morning of Christ's Nativity.

Alison had a sister named Winifred McKenzie, who was also an artist. During World War II, the two sisters moved to St Andrews in Scotland. There, they worked with another artist, Annabel Kidston. They organized drawing and engraving classes for soldiers from Allied countries, including many from Poland. These soldiers were stationed in St Andrews during the war.

Later Life and Art Style

After World War II, Alison McKenzie started teaching art. She worked part-time at the Dundee College of Art. She taught life drawing and helped her sister set up the college's printmaking department.

In 1958, Alison retired from teaching. She wanted to take care of her elderly mother. But she never stopped making art and showing her work. She painted using oil paints and gouache, which is a type of watercolor. She also made many prints. Her art often had a Cubist style. This means her work used geometric shapes and different viewpoints. She often used colors like grey, ochre (a yellowish-brown), and black.

Alison showed her art regularly at important exhibitions. These included the Royal Scottish Academy, the Scottish Society of Women Artists, and the Royal Scottish Watercolour Society. You can find examples of her prints and paintings in the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and other galleries in Scotland.

Alison and her sister Winifred also held several art shows together. They had exhibitions in London and Edinburgh.