Arts column: ‘Downeast Boy’ came on the Lady Boats to paint Bermuda

Frank Allison came to the island some time during the 30s as far as we can ascertain. 

No doubt as he was a “Downeast Boy”, he most likely came on one of the “Lady Boats” run by the National Steamship Company. 

These famous “Ladies” served not only Bermuda but made the classic triangle by going to the islands (including Cuba) and back to the Maritimes. Allison was the great-nephew of the founder of Mt Allison University, which has seen many Bermudians through its doors, not the least of which is the artist/ politician the Hon Robert Barritt. 

Frank Allison worked comfortably in both oil and watercolours. In my mind, however, his best medium was pencil. Masterworks Museum was able to obtain his Bermuda sketchbook — the drawings from it are extraordinary and for any budding artist are well worth a look. He also made many notes in the book regarding what colours he will use in the final work and it indicates that he probably finished many of these Bermuda works back home in his studio in New Brunswick, Canada.

It does seem odd with regular service from both Halifax and St John very few artists seemed to have ventured here. It is known that many members of the famous ‘Group of Seven’ preferred Barbados to paint in the winter. 

Tom Butterfield is director and founder of the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art.