Gordon Allen

Gordon Allen began his art career at the age of twenty when he illustrated his first book, Mostly Tailfeathers, by outdoor writer Gene Hill. In the next dozen years, he went on to illustrate more than twenty books for New York publishers most of them in the sporting genre.

For many years, Allen has divided his time between etching and painting and is largely self-taught in both mediums. He has honed his skills by painting with accomplished artists Skip Whitcomb and William Reese among others. He is one of the finest etchers of the sporting scene in America and has a similar reputation as a plein air painter of landscapes. He still occasionally illustrates books. Most recently, he illustrated A Little History of the United States for Yale University Press published in 2015 and nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

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Allen's subject matter ranges widely reflecting his diverse interests and philosophy of what he finds true and beautiful. He resides in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with his wife and two dogs.