Born in Timmins, Ontario, Canada, in 1968, W. Allan Hancock has had a fascination with the natural world from his childhood days. Allan spent most of his youth in Saskatchewan where abandoned homesteads and the remnants of human heritage also began to leave a lasting impression. Today Allan continues to share these two interests reflecting upon the passing of time and the influence of mankind on this world.
Allan sees the conservation and preservation efforts of various organizations as mankind's attempt to be a positive influence on the natural world - an attempt he wants to be part of. Through his participation in these efforts Allan's artwork has been selected for numerous fund-raising projects for conservation purposes. In 1993 Allan's painting "Of Days Passed - Ferruginous Hawk" was selected for Ducks Unlimited Canada's Art Print Program. Limited edition prints of his painting raised approximately $97,000 for waterfowl and habitat conservation. In 1996, at the age of 28, Allan became the youngest artist ever selected as Ducks Unlimited Canada's Artist of the Year and was honored with the Waterfowl Art Award for his painting "Baldpate Gathering - American Wigeon".
Today, Allan's artwork continues to be featured on conservation stamps and limited edition prints to raise funds and the awareness of the need to protect vital wildlife habitat. His paintings can be found in collections throughout Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia. As interest in his work continues to grow, Allan hopes that mankind's appreciation of the natural world will also grow.
Allan resides in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, with his wife Taryn and their children Ezra and Sage. He enjoys hiking and kayaking and is daily inspired by natural beauty and an abundance of wildlife. Holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Saskatchewan, Allan believes his literary studies have made him a better artist. Literary elements like plot, theme, symbolism, and character development can all be found in his paintings. Allan believes a painting should have an idea, thought, or story to present. In his paintings of the natural world, the theme is definitely: "Fragile, Handle With Care!"
Born: 1968, Timmins, Ontario,
Canada Education: Bachelor of Arts Degree,
English Major, University of Saskatchewan Exhibitions:
2008 22nd Birthday Show, Peninsula Gallery, Sidney, Canada Awards:
2009 British Columbia Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year Publications: Wildlife Art, September/October 1999, "Viewpoint"
"Making Art Your Business," University of Calgary
Certificate, Canadian Picture Framer's School
2008 Highlights, Peninsula Gallery, Sidney, Canada
2008 Painters At Painter's, Painter's Lodge, Campbell River, Canada
2008 Birds Of A Feather, Birthplace Of BC Gallery, Fort Langley, Canada
2008 Masterworks In Miniature,Gallery One, Mentor, USA
2007 21st Birthday Show, Peninsula Gallery, Sidney, Canada
2007 At Waters Edge, Peninsula Gallery, Sidney, Canada
2007 Painters At Painter's, Painter's Lodge, Campbell River, Canada
2007 Masterworks In Miniature,Gallery One, Mentor, USA
2006 20th Birthday Show, Peninsula Gallery, Sidney, Canada
2006 Painters At Painter's, Painter's Lodge, Campbell River, Canada
2006 One Part Passion, Peninsula Gallery, Sidney, Canada
2005 Painters At Painter's, Painter's Lodge, Campbell River, Canada
2004 Wildlife Habitat Canada Show, Gallery Rousseau, Montreal, Canada
2003 17th Birthday Show, Peninsula Gallery, Sidney, Canada
2003 On the Edge, Peninsula Gallery, Sidney, Canada
2003 Masterworks In Miniature,Gallery One, Mentor, USA
2002-2003 Essence Of The Sea, British Columbia, Canada
2002 Animal Art
In The Park, Algonquin Park, Canada
2002 Reflections
Of Nature (Feature Artist), Saskatoon, Canada
2002 ARTessential
Show, Calgary, Canada
2001 Animal Art
In The Park, Algonquin Park, Canada
2001 Trumpeter Swan
Festival, Courtenay, Canada
2000 Animal Art
In The Park, Algonquin Park, Canada
2000 Trumpeter Swan
Festival, Courtenay, Canada
1999 Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada
1999 Pacific Rim Art Exposition, Seattle, USA
1998 Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Canada
1998 Pacific Rim Wildlife Art Show, Seattle, USA
1998 Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corp., Saskatoon, Canada
1998 Trumpeter Swan Festival, Courtenay, Canada
1997 Reflections of Nature, Saskatoon, Canada
1994 Wetlands and Waterfowl National Touring Exhibition, Canada
1991 Natural History Exhibition, Saskatoon, Canada
1995 - 2000 Various Solo Exhibitions
2007 Ducks Unlimited Canada Art Print Portfolio
2006 British Columbia Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year
2006 Ducks Unlimited Canada Art Print Portfolio
2005 Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp
2004 British Columbia Ducks Unlimited Sponsor Artist
2003 Prince Edward Island Conservation Stamp
2003 Alberta Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year
2002 "Best New Reproduction" ARTessential Show, Calgary, Canada
2001 Saskatchewan Conservation Stamp
2000 British Columbia Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year
1999 "1st Place Remarque" Pacific Rim Art Exposition, Seattle, USA
1999 British Columbia Ducks Unlimited Provincial Art Print
1999 Comox Valley Crime Stoppers Art Print
1998 North West Territories Conservation Stamp & Print
1998 Ducks Unlimited Canada Art Print Portfolio
1996 Ducks Unlimited Canada Artist of the Year (Waterfowl Art Award)
1994 - 1995 Ducks Unlimited Central Canada Sponsor Artist
1993 Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation Artist of the Year
1993 Ducks Unlimited Canada Supplemental Artist
1991 Saskatchewan Abilities Council Easter Seal Print
Conservator Magazine, Volume 17 Number 3, 1996, by Nancy Baron
Art Impressions, Winter 1993, "Forever Free" by C. Gardner
