Born in Montréal in 1935, Alison MacNeil began her career in portrait sculture at King's Hall, Compton, Québec, where she was taught by Madame Giselle Lamprecht. These studies continued with Mme. Lamprecht in her Montréal Sherbrooke Street studio throughout 1954 and 1955. One portrait of this period was accepted for the Montréal museum of Fine Arts 73rd Annual Spring Exhibition. Alison married in 1956 and moved to England where she continued studying portrait sculpture at the Goldsmith College, London, and later at the Portsmouth Art College.
Mme. Lamprecht returned to Paris, but her teaching, guidance and constructive criticism continued through an extensive correspondence until her death in 1968.
To date, more than one hundred portraits have been completed, including many commissions of adults and children. Although exhibitions have not been a major aim, Alison has taken part in many "Artists in Action" demonstrations in a number of cities, and portraits have been accepted for exhibition at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, the Agnes Etherington Art Gallery, Kingston, the Centennial Art Gallery, Halifax, the Federation of British Artists Society of Portrait Scultpors in London, the Maritime Art Association, the Nova Scotia Art Bank, the Mount St. Vincent Art Gallery, Halifax, and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Zwicker's Gallery in Halifax, and Edgemere Gallery & Gifts in Kenville carry Alison's small bronze scultures.
Busts of General Sir Arthur Currie and General H.D.G. Crerar were commissioned for the Royal Military College of Canada in 1968 and are on display at R.M.C. A portrait of the late Governor General Georges P. Vanier was privately commissioned, the original of which was in the private possession of the late Madame Vanier, with bronze casts in the collection of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, B.C., in the Québec Residence of the Governor General, and in the Rideau Club of Ottawa. In 1978 the Royal Canadian Regiment commissioned a bust of Brigadier Milton F. Gregg, V.C., for the Regimental Home Station, London, Ontario. A bronze cast of Brigadier Gregg has been presented by Alumni members to the University of New Brunswick. The Izaak Walton Killam Hospital in Halifax was presented with commissioned work in 1979 in commemoration of the International Year of the Child. Subsequent bronzes have been presented for distinguished service to the hospital. For many years the Nova Scotia School Athletic Federation presented an award that was executed by Alison. A bust of Mr. Donald McInnis, Q.C., Chairman of the Board of Governors of Dalhousie, was presented to the University in 1981. In 1987, the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation commissioned the Richard B. Goldbloom Medal "For Excellence in the Science of Paediatrics and Sensitivity to the Needs of Children and Families". It is to be awarded annually to a Graduating Medical Student. The Cultural Life Award of 1989 was a medal made by Alison.
An increasing number of Portraits in Miniature of friends, mothers and children, fathers and grandparents have been created for friends and clients. These and other works are in private collections in Belgium, Denmark, Enlgand, France, Germany, the United States and Canada.
Alison began teaching in Kingston, Ontario in 1967 and continued in Halifax, N.S. From 1974 to 1976, while her husband was serving at N.A.T.O. Headquarters, she gave classes in Brussels, Belgium. On their return to Canada, Alison resumed teaching and the execution of commissions in Nova Scotia and Ottawa. Responsibilities connected with her husband's job - and associated moves - limited her involvement! But this is where working in miniature adapted well to changing circumstances.
Portrayal of loving relationships continues to be a focus for Alison's work, which, as time and circumstance permit, she does from her home in Belmont, Hants County in Nova Scotia.
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