Collection DC 006 - Artwork by Andrew Allan, lithographic artist and student at The Glasgow School of Art, Scotland

Andrew Allan attended The Glasgow School of Art from sessions 1882-83 to 1895-96.

The Glasgow School of Art records for Andrew Allan are somewhat confused. Although he is noted as having been first admitted to the school in variously 1880, 1877 and 1888, he does not appear in the alphabetical registers until the 1882-83 session.

Further confusions arises with the alphabetical registers listing his age as follows:
• Session 1890-91 – 26 years (appears accurate)
• Session 1891-92 – 28 years
• Session 1892-93 – 28 years
• Session 1893-94 – 28 years
• Session 1894-95 – 31 years
• Session 1895-96 – 30 years

Allan is noted in the GSA registers as residing at several different addresses in Glasgow, as well as Ardrossan—sometimes concurrently. Despite the confusion in the registers, in each of the sessions Allan attended at GSA there was only one ‘Andrew Allan’ listed, and notes made in the registers confirm that the entries are for the same person.

Throughout his time at The Glasgow School of Art, Allan’s occupation is noted as ‘litho: draughtsman’. He also worked in watercolour and silverpoint drawing landscapes, still life and figures and his drawings featured on postcards, many of which depicted Scottish buildings and monuments. He was influenced by the style of the French fin-de-Siecle. He exhibited with the RSA once in 1895 from a Glasgow address and thereafter from 1897 whilst living at Ardrossan, contributing a total of 34 works there during his lifetime.