Allen was born and raised in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and started painting in oils at the age of 16.

After high school he completed a 3-year graphic design course and worked in the print and graphic design industry until 1989 when he emigrated to South Africa.

For several years Allen owned and operated printing and manufacturing businesses in South Africa before he began painting and exhibiting fulltime. At this time Allen began to document and paint African people in their rural environments.

Allen emigrated for a third time in 2000 - this time to Canada and eventually settled in Gatineau (Quebec). He continued to paint African people for a few years, traveling back and forth to South Africa to exhibit paintings with galleries there and to travel into the rural areas of Southern Africa to gather photographic material.

Over this period of time his work has gradually and radically changed from documenting people in real life to currently painting people in a more surreal and expressionist manner. The figure it seems continues be his inspiration.

Allen is a self - taught painter.

EXHIBITIONS

1985 - Standard Bank - Harare, Zimbabwe.
Large scale Abstract/Figurative works.

1990 - Eloff Street Gallery - Cape Town, South Africa.
Abstract/Figurative works.

1991 - Port Elizabeth Provincial/public Art Gallery - Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Eastern Province Fine Arts Society Eistedfodd group exhibition. Abstraction

1992 - Port Elizabeth Provincial/public Art Gallery - Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Eastern Province Fine Arts Society Eistedfodd group exhibition. Figure/Realism.

1992 - Eastern Province Fine Arts Society - Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Solo exhibition. Wildlife.

1993 - Eastern Province Fine Arts Society - Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Solo exhibition. Wildlife.

1999 - Cuyler Street Gallery - Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Group exhibition. Wildlife.

1999 - The Artists Space - Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Solo exhibition. Wildlife and Figurative African Works.

2000 - Cuyler Street Gallery - Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Group exhibition. Realism.

2000 - Oliewenhuis (Provincial Public Gallery) - Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Group exhibition. Figurative African Works.

2001 - Knysna Fine Arts - Knysna, South Africa.
Group exhibition in October entitled “The Dry Land”. Figurative .

2003 - Cuyler Street Gallery - Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Solo exhibition. Figurative African Works.

2004 - Everard Read Gallery - Johannesburg, South Africa.
Group exhibition in April entitled “Fine South African Painters and Sculptors”. Figurative.

2004 - Savacou Gallery - New York, USA.
October - Group exhibition at art fair “Art Off The Main”.
Figurative African works and abstraction.

2005 - Savacou Gallery - National Black Fine Art Show, New York, USA.
Group exhibition of gallery works. Abstraction.

2005 - Galarie Montcalm – Gatineau, Quebec - Lotto Quebec Group exhibition.
Group exhibition of juried works. Figurative.

2005 - Savacou Gallery – New York, USA.
September - The Africa America Institute art auction.

2005 - Savacou Gallery - New York, USA.
October - Group exhibition at art fair “Art Off The Main”.
Figurative African works and abstraction.

2006 - Savacou Gallery - New York, USA.
October - Group exhibition at art fair “Art Off The Main”.
Figurative African works and abstraction.

2007 – Ottawa Fine Arts Festival – Ottawa, Canada.
May – Group Exhibition.
New Figurative works.

2007 - Savacou Gallery - New York, USA.
October - Group exhibition at art fair “Art Off The Main”.
Figurative works.

2007 – Savacou Gallery – New York USA.
November – Group exhibition “The Others”.
Figurative works.

2007 – Carraige House Gallery – Midland, Ontario
December – Solo exhibition “The New Normal”
Recent figurative works.

2008 – Toronto Art Expo – Toronto, Canada.
March - Group Exhibition.
New Figurative works.

2009 – Toronto Art Expo – Toronto, Canada.
March - Group Exhibition.
New Figurative works.

2009 – Blink Gallery – Ottawa, Canada.
Sept/Oct. – Solo Exhibition.
New Figurative works.

2009 – Ottawa Art Festival.
October – Group Exhibition.
Figurative and representational works.

2010 – Ottawa Art Festival.
October – Group Exhibition.
Figurative and representational works.

2011 – Espace Odysee – Gatineau City Public Gallery, Gatineau, Quebec.
February/June – Solo Exhibition.
New Figurative works.