William Herbert Allen

William Herbert Allen (1863–1943) was an English landscape watercolour artist whose career spanned more than 50 years from the 1880s to the 1940s. He was invariably referred to as "W. H." rather than by his given name. Born 14 September 1863 in West Brompton, London, of parents from Alton, Hampshire, Allen was for many years Director of the Farnham School of Art in Surrey. He produced several thousand watercolours, chalk and pencil sketches mainly of the landscapes, traditions and people of West Surrey and North-east Hampshire. In addition, he produced scenes of other parts of the British Isles and various parts of continental Europe. These works included commissions in Italy for the Victoria and Albert Museum, Dublin, Edinburgh and Preston museums. He was made a member of the Royal Watercolour Society in 1903 and the Royal Society of British Artists in 1904

Allen embraced many styles and techniques from vivid, almost abstract, watercolours to more traditional oils and watercolours. His field sketches and studies are considered to be particularly successful and were painted in all weathers and conditions. Falkner later paid tribute to Allen's contribution to the early building conservation movement in an article published in Country Life in July 1942: "Allen transformed our outlook, which thought nothing of our Georgian past and relegated its furniture to the attics if it were not sawn up".

The Allen Gallery, Alton This gallery, whilst dedicated to the memory of Allen, shows works by a wide variety of artists and has frequently changing exhibitions, including occasional large exhibitions of Allen's work. Allen's work permanently on display here comprises the following watercolours: The Juice Girl Building the hayrick, King's Farm, Binsted The rick yard, King's Farm, Binsted King's Farm and hop kilns, Binsted (1) King's Farm and hop kilns, Binsted (2) Going Home - Waverley Woods Happy Seclusion - Boulogne-sur-Mer, France Feeding the chickens