denise allen (she/her)

  • Belfast-born, raised on the we[s]t coast of Canada, denise is an emerging illustrator and artivist with a home-based studio practice in kalpilin on the shíshálh swiya | Pender Harbour on the Sunshine Coast.

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    As an artist, I like to play in the negative space: with strong statements, exploring traditional methods and mediums. I enjoy getting my hands dirty with linocut printmaking, ink/graphite on paper, collage and community art builds. I also create botanical illustrations and protest art. Climate action and social justice are the undercurrents of my artivism.

    I am a sea creature at heart on a second career path: a recovering scientist fascinated with the wise architecture of the natural world and it’s collision course with human hubris. My evolving practice is motivated by solastalgia, conservation and conversation. My content is my process, and as a settler/artist, I am a parallel work in progress.

  • Exhibitions + Events

    2026 - SUNSHINE COAST ART CRAWL, Gibsons Public Art Gallery (Oct 23-25) Gibsons BC

    2026 - WINGS | Group Exhibition, Tidal Arts Centre (Jul 17-Aug 2) Lund BC

    2026 - PRESENT TENSE | Members’ Exhibition, GPAG (Jun 25-Jul 19) Gibsons BC

    2026 - Friends of the Gallery | Sunshine Coast Arts Council Members Exhibition, Sunshine Coast Arts Centre (Jan 9-Feb 7) Sechelt BC

    2025 - LISTED | Solo Exhibition, GPAG: Joe’s Lounge (Sep 18-Oct 14) Gibsons BC

    2025 - Members’ Tiny Exhibition, GPAG: Joe’s Lounge (Jun 26-Jul 20) Gibsons BC

    2025 - PRESENT TENSE | Members’ Exhibition, GPAG (Jun 26-Jul 20) Gibsons BC

    2025 - Friends of the Gallery | Sunshine Coast Arts Council Members Exhibition, SCAC (Jan 10-Feb 8) Sechelt BC

    2024 - SUNSHINE COAST ART CRAWL: Venue #125, SCAC (Oct 18-20) Sechelt BC

    2024 - Group Exhibition with Teresa Selbee-Baker and Allie Bartlett: SCAC Back Gallery (Oct 11-Nov 9) Sechelt BC

    2024 - Luck of the Draw: GPAG Fundraiser (Jul 25) Gibsons BC

    2024 - PRESENT TENSE | Members’ Exhibition, GPAG (Jun 27-Jul 28) Gibsons BC

    2023 - PRESENT TENSE | Members’ Exhibition, GPAG (Nov 30-Dec 23) Gibsons BC

    Education

    Fall 2026 - Emily Carr University of Art & Design: Fine Arts Certificate

    2023 - ECUAD: Illustration Certificate

    1999 - University of Toronto: Master of Forest Conservation (International Forestry)

    1996 - University of British Columbia: Bachelor of Science (Natural Resources Conservation)

    Skills Development

    Sun Printing w/ Margie Davidson (Fibre Works Studio & Gallery 2022) Madeira Park BC

    Botanical Illustration w/ Katherine Dickinson (Van Dusen Botanical Gardens 2016-2018) Vancouver BC

    Letterpress w/ Kyle Schlesinger (Harry Smith Print Shop: Naropa University 2015) Boulder CO

    Sign Painting w/ John Lennig (got craft! 2015) Vancouver BC

    Card Print (BLIM 2015) Vancouver BC

    Relief Prints (Clark Drive Gallery 2015) Vancouver BC

    Bibliography

    2017  Mr. T, "About the Cover Artist...". Lights Go Out, Newbury UK, Issue 43, February 2017. Cover, 22-23.

    2015  Allen, Denise. POETRAIT. 2015. In Ella Longer and Tyler Lyman, ed. HELIX SYNTAX: SWP Lit Mag, 27. Boulder CO: The Naropa Press, 2015.