Born in 1944, Frank Allen spent his formative  years on Quoin Island,  off the Central Queensland coastal town of Gladstone, renown as the destination of the famous Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race, a yearly Easter event entering its' 58th year in 2007. (check link: http://www.brisbanetogladstone.com.au) 

From the age of five, Frank was so fascinated by these racing yachts, he began sketching and painting as many boats as he could. Toys were hard to come by on an island, so he also made his own model yachts to amuse himself and, as each year passed, the models became more detailed and accurate along with his paintings. Model boat building was the practical tool which enabled a sound understanding of the engineering and structured shapes of yachts, boats and ships.

By his early teens he had started working as a deckhand on fishing and charter boats. During the lulls and to while away the hours, Frank applied himself to painting and capturing the essence of the sea in all its various moods (this realism style of painting oceans and seas has become his signature!)

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By his late teens, Frank moved to Sydney where he spent the next thirty years working as a graphic artist at various advertising agencies. His spare time was still devoted to his passion of maritime art, model making, and also crewing on racing yachts whenever possible.

It was during this period  that he built over 40  scale model yachts, boats and sailing ships, which Frank says was a very educational experience in learning to paint the rigging of an old sailing ship accurately, as well as the planking and other details. As Frank says, once you build a model of a sailing ship, creating a painting of it is the easy part! Many of his clients have commissioned both a model and a painting of the same vessel.     

Frank has held  two art exhibitions in Sydney, the first in 1988, and the second in 1992, which were  very successful in getting his reputation established. Since then he has had commissions for his work from the U.S.A., U. K. and Australia.                          

Frank departed Sydney in the late 90's and moved back to Queensland's beautiful Gold Coast, where he now devotes his time exclusively to maritime art.

As can be seen from his Gallery of Paintings, Frank can paint any type of vessel accurately depicting either calm or rough seas. Whatever the setting, whether it be industrial, modern, historical or the open sea - Frank's meticulous skill is apparent!

Frank is both a Professional Member and an Exhibiting Member, respectively, of the following :-

International Society of Marine Painters (ISMP)
http://www.ismpart.com

Australian Society of Marine Artists (ASMA) http://www.marineartistsaustralia.com.au