John Allin, Artist
Gun St, Spitalfields
John Allin (1934-1991) began painting while serving a six month prison sentence for minor theft, and achieved considerable success in the sixties and seventies with his vivid intricate pictures recalling the East End of his childhood. There is a dreamlike quality to these visions in sharp focus of an emotionalised cityscape, created at a time when the Jewish people were leaving to seek better housing in the suburbs and their culture was fading from those streets which had once been its home.
Returning from National Service in the Merchant Navy, Allin worked in the parks department planting trees, later as a swimming pool attendant and then as a long distance lorry driver – all before his conviction and imprisonment. After discovering his artistic talent, he devoted himself to painting and won attention with his first exhibition in 1969 at the Portal Gallery, specialising in primitive and outsider art. In 1974, he collaborated with Arnold Wesker on a book of reminiscence, “Say Goodbye: You may never see them again” in which he reveals an equivocation about the East End. “I saw it as a place where people lived, earned their living, grew up, moved on … they had dignity … I like painting the past with dignity…” he said in an interview with Wesker, “but what they’ve done to the East End is diabolical! They’ve scuppered it, built and built and torn down and torn out and took lots of identity away and made it into just a concrete nothing… But people go on, don’t they? Eating their eels and giving their custom where they’ve always given their custom … Funny how people can go on and take anything and everything.”
Like Joe Orton in the theatre, Allin’s reputation as an ex-con fuelled his reputation in newspapers and on television but he found there was a price to pay, as he revealed to Wesker, “You know how I started painting don’t you? In prison! Well, when I come out the kids at school give my kid a rough time … the silly bloody journalists didn’t help. ‘Jail-bird becomes painter!’ You’d’ve thought I’d done God knows what … I mean the neighbours used to say things like ‘Look at ‘im! Jail-bird and he’s on telly! Ought to be sent back inside the nick!’ I was the oddity in the district, the lazy fat bastard that paints. Give me a half a chance and I’d move mate.” In fact, Allin joined Gerry Cottle’s Circus, touring as a handyman to create another book, “John Allin’s Circus Life” in 1982.
Although he was the first British recipient of the international Prix Suisse de Peinture Naive award in 1979, the categorisation of Outsider or Primitive artist is no longer adequate to apply to John Allin. Twenty years after his death, his charismatic paintings deserve to be recognised as sophisticated works which communicate an entire social world through an unapologetically personal and emotionally charged visual vocabulary.
Spitalfields Market, Brushfield St.
Great Synagogue, Brick Lane.
Jewish Soup Kitchen, Brune St.
Christ Church School, Brick Lane.
Heneage St and Brick Lane.
Rothschild Dwellings, Spitalfields.
Whitechapel Rd.
Christ Church Park, Commmercial St.
Wentworth St.
Fashion St with gramophone man in the foreground..
Churchill Walk.
Young Communist League rally, corner of Brick Lane and Old Montague St.
Hessel St.
Snow Scene.
Anti-Fascist Rally at Gardiners’ Corner, 1936.
Cole’s Chicken Shop, Cobb St.
Factory Workers.
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Very attractive pictures – my favourite one is of Hessel Street.
Beautiful!!! Thank you!
These are charming records of London life; thank you for cheering up a wet Bank Holiday. The Portal Gallery, which you say gave John his first exhibition, also represented Beryl Cook.
Some great paintings
Gentle Author, where can we see Allin’s work?
Fantastic detail and an accurate record of shops and buildings now gone. It brings back memories of traders we once dealt with long ago. Maxwell Bagwash, they also had a shop in Lyal Road, Bow. Bagwash was the poor mans laundry, you put all of your wash in a cloth bag, it was washed together and returned in the bag still wet, people then hung it up to dry and ironed it. The better off clients had best wash where it came back dried and ironed.
Gary
Fantastic pictures which I am sure will bring a lot of memories back too many people . Thanks again Gentle Author for showing me a collection of beautiful paintings which I probably would never have seen . My favourite is Rothwell Dwellings and would look very nice in my house……..
Thanks for introducing me to these wonderful paintings. Reminded me very much of Alasdair Gray’s Glasgow street scenes. What a wonderful blog this is, thanks again!
Dear Gentle Author, I am the Daughter of John Allin. My attention was brought to your blog by a friend who sent me the link. I want to thank you for the most wonderful, complimentary comments you have made about my Dad. He was a lovely man who should have gained more notoriety for his paintings than he did when he was alive. He was a larger than life character, & we still miss him dearly 20 years on. You truly have done your research about him, which really impressed me. Many people who write about my Dad don’t really do their homework properly, so it was so nice to see that everything you wrote was not only correct, but in perfect chronological order. On behalf of my Me, my Mother & Daughter, I want to say ‘thank you’, once again, for the wonderful piece that you have written about my Dad. Please feel free to email me if there is anything I can do to help you. Best wishes, Sharon, Phillis & Casey Allin.
Dear Gentle Author, what a lovely message to receive from the Allin Family, surviving families are often overlooked when ‘past works’ are discussed. I grew up in Bethnal Green, as were my parents, but have only been following John Allin for about 15 years. I have just ordered your book. Please keep up the good work. Best Wishes, Ron Pummell.
Really charming artwork, I especially like Brushfield St and the Market as I used to love scouring for second hand books and things. Happy days!
Really lovely paintings. Mr A had such a talent and feel for his subject matter. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for the fine display of John’s work. He was a friend and I own five of his original oils, bought in the sixties and seventies, plus a set of the prints. They all still delight me after all these years!
Absolutely love these. Can anyone give any clues as to where we might be able to view them, or better still, buy prints. Can’t find any leads on the internet. Thanks.
pouvez vous me dire s’il y a un livre publié sur les peintures de john allin, et me donner les references
merci
What a wonderful gift to Spitalfields.
These paintings are wonderful. Is there any information about “S ay goodbye”?
Please can you give me information where these prints can be purchased I am if poss looking for a particular print
Terry, you are a very lucky man! I first saw a couple of John Allin’s paintin g whilst searching out images of old Whitechapel. I really love them. As I couldn’t find any reference to sale of prints anywhere, all I could do was download and save the image and print them off as a postcard sized photo which I do have out. These paintings are really very special and I do hope the family or someone can organise them to be reproduced. I am sure they would sell as quick as the freshly baked beigels of Brick Lane!
Please let me know if and when prints are available.
Kindest regards, Claire
Interesting reading!
My late father bought a number of John Allin originals in his later life as an art consultant which may well be of interest to the right organisation as subjects for limited reproduction!
A terrific article, for which many thanks. John Allin’s work has real energy & understanding–he deserves to be better known. I bought the framed artist’s proof of the Wentworth Street print (signed) some time ago, which means that I’ve now a second copy. Should this be of interest to anyone, I’d be more than happy to hear!
I have a folio of 8 prints “Stepney Streets” by John Allin words by Arnold Wesker.
In 1975 an edition 250 sets were hand screen printed by Bernard Cook of White Ink Studios.
The sets were all signed by the artist, the text page signed by Arnold Wesker
I had the pleasure of meeting John Allin & Arnold Wesker when we were privileged to print the lithographic text pages & the opportunity to purchase folio No. 8 which I still have & treasure.
The paintings are so vivid & alive and recreate for me the memory of the East End where I was born and lived for 65 years, I now live in Essex.
My thanks & gratitude to this wonderful Artist who has left us such a great legacy.
With regards & thanks
Les Wynn
I have a portfolio of John Allin, Stepney Streets including the original hard back carry folder, prints, all in excellent condition, wanted to know where any one would recommend to sell them.
If someone can get back in touch asap, that would be amazing!
Thanks
Dear Samantha, i would be interested in the prints , or at least some of them if you wanted to sell them.
Judy
I have a signed print of Wentworth Street in excellent condition. How do I ascertain it’s worth. I do not know whether to send it to auction or post it on ebay!
I enjoy all Allin’s works.
Samantha – I, too, would be interested in acquiring some of John Allin’s work. I grew up in the East End during the 50’s, my grandmother lived in Hessel Street and his paintings bring back such happy memories. Please let me know how to contact you. Mike M
I am sure that the picture of spitalfield market includes my Dad as he worked for Percy Dalton whose stand is shown in the picture
my brother printed a lot of his work when he was working for Gand B arts
Check out the facebook website the jewish east end if you are nostalgic about everything East End… 600 members and over 550 photos including many of Hessel St, the clubs, shuls and schools
Dear Gentle Author, love this blog (even before you did a piece on my dad Eddie and our old pub the Two Puddings!) but love it even more to find this piece on the great John Allin. For many years I’ve treasured my copy of ‘Say Goodbye…’ and frequently pore over these wonderful images. Especially poignant for me as my late mum knew many of the locations.
Fantastis paintings, he really shows the spirit of the places. Valerie
Hi,
Have just posted one his paintings on e bay,
feel this painting belongs in London,
His work is so alive you feel like you could walk into the shop.
Just search John Allin he should come up.
I was fortunate to work with John on a film called ‘Hopping’ and recall him keeping us amused with tales from his life, long into the night… I have a feeling there may have been some drinking involved! A thoughtful and observant man with an expansive personality…. at true eastender.
The Late John Allin is my Grandfather I was born in 1991 6 mouths before he sadly past away
I have seen a lot of my Grandad’s painting and I am proud to call myself his granddaughter
Lovely pictures and brought back memories of when I was a child. I lived in Flower & Dean Street in the Rothschild Buildings & my Aunts lived across the road in Nathaniel Buildings. I remember playing on the stairs and looking out over the railings. There was a shop called Garfunkel’s in our street and a paper shop not far away.
My parents were Irish so I suppose you would call us immigrants, I was born in the East End Hospital in 1954 and lived in the buildings until I was about seven. When I got older I used to play downstairs outside the buildings with my dolls pram we were lucky in that we were allowed to do this then.
A very talented artist who has brought to life the people and places.
Thank you
hi. i have some allin prints.are they worth a anything
My name is Sharon, and I am the daughter of the late John Allin. I have a number of my father’s limited edition prints for sale (London’s Burning, which is one of his last works) Wentworth Street, & The 100th Birthday Party. Could I also politely remind people that owning an original work does not entitle the owner to either reproduce the work, or sell the right to a third party to reproduce the work, as I have seen a post offering this option. My Mother and I own ALL copyright to my Father’s works, so it cannot be reproduced without our permission. If anyone is interested in doing this, or buying a print, please contact me on 07988066744. Many thanks.
Hi, I also have 5 original works for sale, by my Father, John Allin. If interested, please contact me on 07988066744. Thank you. Sharon.
Hi, I have 2 John Allin prints for sale, 1)Anti-facist rally at Gardiners’ Court 1936; signed; 108/250 and 2) a Spitafields scene which is an a/p (Artist proof); signed with 75.
Any serious offers?
I knew John Allin as a Child, he his Wife and Daughter lived around the corner from us. The Nan lived up stairs in theGranny Annex. I was friends with his Daughter and my Brother dated his Her for quite a while. John was one of the nicest amiable Blokes you could Meet. I remember He gave my Parents two signed limited edition Prints. I admired his paintings as a Kid and appreciate them even more today.
I used to go to their house often as Kid and was amazed to see the Celebrities who visited them. He was a very down to Earth Man though.
Hi Gentle Author, Sharon, Casey and Phylis. John was my great pal. I came down from Scotland to the East End where I lived just around the corner from John and his family. John took me under his wing and we spent, many, many, happy hours in the Penshurst Arms. John was the founder member pf the Pils Club. You couldn’t buy a bottle of Pilsner Lager until you joined John’s club. They were in short supply. Both my kids were born at the Mother’s Hospital, Clapton and John helped me to wet (drown) their heads. In 1976, Harold Wilson opened John’s private viewing at Earls Court (pink Gin day) in 1976. I was invited but unfortunately I was always working. John gave me half a folio of his A/P and P/P prints value then, £1200 a full folio of eight was £2,400. John said to remind me of my days in the East End I bought his book Say Goodbye and his Circus book. I am the figure on the roof in his painting of Gardiner’s Corner. John showed me himself in many paintings. I rememer when they all left from the Penshurst to film Hop picking in Kent, a story of John’s childhood and when Pebble Mill came to the Penshurst to film John and George Innes and when the Penshurst Punters went up to Pebble Mill. Again I was always working and couldn’t go. I spent many happy years in Hackney and in particular in the company of John, as mad as a hatter Licensee Dave Gough (Goughie), One Eyed Albert, Winnie, Gladys, Frank, Slippers to name but a few. Now retired back to Scotland with grown up Grandchildren, I look back with great nostalgia to my days in the East End, everyone so friendly, where they had a collection for the birth of my son, John’s wife Phylis and Winnie. They gave us £40. They went even better and gave us £50 for my daughter and brought my wife and daughter home in a Rolls Royce. I have John’s prints hanging in my sitting-rrom and they like John’s short film reminds me of my days in the East End, everything being pulled down and replaced, the Penshurst lying empty and semi derelict. My wife and I still make the pilgrimage back once a year where we still meet some old friends in the Albion in Laurieston Road and where there is a large collection of John’s work hanging on the walls. Oh to be young again and bring back the good old days.
I had the pleasure of meeting John as he was a good friend of my dad Denny Wright, he too used to drink in the penshurts arms, I can remember as a child going to his house where all his prints were hanging on the wall. Interested to know if anyone remembers my dad?
Is there anywhere that I could buy a copy of any of these pictures?
Hi Ian
Only just seen Your comment as don’t get on here that often do
You have an email address as mum nan and I would love too talk to you thanks hun
Casey xx
@iandevlin
Hi,
I have a complete set of the Stepney Streets prints, all hand signed and in excellent condition. My email address is curiousfruits@gmail.com.
Thanks,
George
I love his work and am always looking to add to my collection .
Please email me at charliebridges1952@gmail.com if you have items you are willing to sell me.
Thank you
Charlie
Hi Casey. I have just found your post. Hope Mum and Nan are all well. I heard you have moved out of Town and are somewhere on the south coast. The Gentle Author is doing a book on John, it will be a lovely tribute to a great guy. I promised I would look him up when next in London but unfortunately a stroke and a heart attack have curtailed my visits to London. My email address is iandevlin144@gmail.com. Ian
Sam Hurley/ I see your post re. your father Denny Wright. If he drunk in the Penshurst I knew him. However I cannot put a face to him. Was he one of the Pool Boys? Ian
Hi Sharon, Casey, my Dad, Walter Dunn, was a friend of John’s. Mum & Dad lived in Sonning Common, near Reading. I remember as a young child John (and Sharon) visiting our house, probably in the late 60’s. My dad died in 2012 aged 93. Mum is in a care home near me in Portsmouth and we were talking about John, hence me finding this site following a google search. Many thanks, Laurence Dunn
Hi I was wondering if anyone can help, I have a print of London’s Burning. It is a drawing of dock area. One of the building has a moon window at the top. Also there is a sign photo of all the cast that was in he program of the same name. If anyone ca give me any help I would be grateful thank you.
Please can you tell me when Gentle Author publishes The book on John Allin and where it’s available to purchase.
Best wishes
I also think these pictures are fascinating especially for anyone that has family that live in Stepney in those days.
Can someone please contact me if they have any of the Stepney drawings or lithographs for sale.my email is :-
omek.marks@virgin.net
Thanks
Omek
I have an original oil painting by John which shows a fruit and veg shop with a baby in a pram and A dalmatian. dog I think the man serving could be John does anyone have any information to who is in the picture and where shop was also the name above the shop is J ALLIN
Does anyone know where ‘Whitechapel Rd’ by John Allin (featuring the entrance to Black Lion Yard and displayed above) is on view?
Also is it for sale or are there any prints of it available to purchase?
Thank you
Leland
I’m giving a talk on ‘1930s East End Artists’ to Ilford Historical Society, 12th April 2021, so getting it ready now. It will be a Zoom talk (unless things really do change for the better) so everyone welcome.
Does anyone know the date when John Allin’s painting of “The Battle of Cable Street” 1936 was actually painted?
Best Wishes
Jef Page, President
Ilford HS.
John worked for me as a lorry driver in the early 60’s , and borrowed some money in advance of his wages,had difficulty paying it back, and offered me one of his paintings in lieu. I refused and he did pay it back, but how I now wish I had taken a painting !! Are there any for sale anywhere or even a print ?
I was a friend of his daughter when I was a kid. He was truly a genuinely nice person, I was honoured enough to have a glimpse of one or two of his paintings in progress. One Christmas the family gave me a chopper bike. I wanted one so much but we could never have afforded one so you can imagine how grateful I was. I’ve never forgotten that kind gesture from the Allin family. His paintings are a great representation of the East End.
I knew John Allin well and in his early struggling years I gave him a small weekly stipend (As did my friend Arnold Wesker) to keep going. I currently own four of his paintings, which I treasure
I knew John Allin well and in his early struggling years I gave him a small weekly stipend (As did my friend Arnold Wesker) to keep going. I currently own five of his paintings, which I treasure
I have just bought and read the book “Say Goodbye” illustrated with John Allin’s pictures and the text is a conversation between John and Arnold Wesker – both East End boys. It is truly delightful bringing back my own memories of growing up in nother art of London during and after the war. The paintings are beautiful. Thank you, Doreen