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Allan Cownie obituary Allan Cownie obituary
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My father, Allan Cownie, who has died aged 88, was a distinguished academic and scientist who became one of Manchester’s most respected artists. He was also an activist, an author and a Samaritan.My father, Allan Cownie, who has died aged 88, was a distinguished academic and scientist who became one of Manchester’s most respected artists. He was also an activist, an author and a Samaritan.
Allan was the son of Eric Rees, an industrial chemist, and his wife, Catherine. He was born and brought up in Cardiff and at school showed early academic promise. His love of Wales was always evident. He graduated from Cardiff University with a degree in physics and went on to do a PhD in natural philosophy at the University of Glasgow. Allan was the son of Eric Cownie, an industrial chemist, and his wife, Catherine. He was born and brought up in Cardiff and at school showed early academic promise. His love of Wales was always evident. He graduated from Cardiff University with a degree in physics and went on to do a PhD in natural philosophy at the University of Glasgow.
He soon became established as a lecturer in electrical and control engineering at the University of Salford. His scientific skills came into play at home, too, where he would engineer a solution to any practical problem. Visiting international academics were a regular part of our family life.He soon became established as a lecturer in electrical and control engineering at the University of Salford. His scientific skills came into play at home, too, where he would engineer a solution to any practical problem. Visiting international academics were a regular part of our family life.
Art had been a love of Allan’s for many years and his painting really began to flourish in the 1970s. He wrote in 1974: “Since 1968 painting has become [my] absorbing interest. In the artist-scientist combination there is no doubt that artist has come to occupy first place.”Art had been a love of Allan’s for many years and his painting really began to flourish in the 1970s. He wrote in 1974: “Since 1968 painting has become [my] absorbing interest. In the artist-scientist combination there is no doubt that artist has come to occupy first place.”
His studio was his spiritual home. Initially focused on portraits, he later became exceptionally skilled in life drawing and still life. Allan was recognised as one of Manchester’s leading artists, exhibiting in Salford, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London and Hamburg. As a mark of his reputation, he was commissioned to paint the University of Salford’s first vice-chancellor, Clifford Whitworth. Always the teacher, Allan led art classes and inspired others to develop their skills.His studio was his spiritual home. Initially focused on portraits, he later became exceptionally skilled in life drawing and still life. Allan was recognised as one of Manchester’s leading artists, exhibiting in Salford, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London and Hamburg. As a mark of his reputation, he was commissioned to paint the University of Salford’s first vice-chancellor, Clifford Whitworth. Always the teacher, Allan led art classes and inspired others to develop their skills.
In his mid-50s, Allan gave up his job as a senior lecturer at the University of Salford and became a professional artist, with portrait commissions including the astronomer Bernard Lovell, founder of Jodrell Bank, and the opera singer Geraint Evans, and exhibitions at the Colin Jellicoe Gallery in Manchester. However the call of his native Wales was strong, and eventually Allan and his wife, Cynthia, whom he had married in the early 1960s, settled in Pwllheli, on the Llŷn peninsula in Gwynedd.In his mid-50s, Allan gave up his job as a senior lecturer at the University of Salford and became a professional artist, with portrait commissions including the astronomer Bernard Lovell, founder of Jodrell Bank, and the opera singer Geraint Evans, and exhibitions at the Colin Jellicoe Gallery in Manchester. However the call of his native Wales was strong, and eventually Allan and his wife, Cynthia, whom he had married in the early 1960s, settled in Pwllheli, on the Llŷn peninsula in Gwynedd.
Allan needed a studio, so he built one from the remnants of an old barn. It was a perfect place where he could paint and listen to Wagner very loudly. He volunteered at the Plas Glyn-y-Weddw gallery and in 2000 authored A Dictionary of Welsh and English Idiomatic Phrases under his Welsh name, Alun Rhys Cownie.Allan needed a studio, so he built one from the remnants of an old barn. It was a perfect place where he could paint and listen to Wagner very loudly. He volunteered at the Plas Glyn-y-Weddw gallery and in 2000 authored A Dictionary of Welsh and English Idiomatic Phrases under his Welsh name, Alun Rhys Cownie.
He is survived by Cynthia, their children, Philippa, David and me, and seven grandchildren, James, Edward, Lily, Tom, Joe, Max and Ella.He is survived by Cynthia, their children, Philippa, David and me, and seven grandchildren, James, Edward, Lily, Tom, Joe, Max and Ella.