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©Olga Makarova
©Olga Makarova
©Olga Makarova
©Olga Makarova
©Olga Makarova

Alison Woolley

  • Florenceart.net
  • Decorative painter
  • Anghiari, Italy
  • Master Artisan
Alison Woolley Decorative painter
Contact
Italian, English
Hours:
By appointment only
Phone:
+39 3911461557
©Olga Makarova

Renaissance craftsmanship in contemporary hands

  • • Alison moved to Italy from Canada in the late 1980s
  • • Florence’s rich cultural heritage nurtured her talent for painting
  • • Her atelier is situated in the scenic Tuscan countryside

Alison Woolley landed in Florence as a young graduate from the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto. “I was fascinated by the beautiful artisan workshops in the city," she recalls. “I went to all the studios with my paintings, until I was finally offered an internship in the bottega of a master decorator." What started as her post-graduate year became a lifelong commitment. “I was excited by the craft side of decoration, and how it was linked to the world of interior design. I preferred this route to being a fine artist selling through galleries.” Alison carries out a variety of commission works, and one of her specialities is the decoration of harpsichords with elaborate gilding and chinoiserie. She also holds engaging art classes, private lessons and online courses.

Read the full interview

Works

  • ©PietroPaolini
  • ©PietroPaolini
  • ©Alison Woolley
  • ©NicolasMichael
  • ©Alison Woolley
Photo: ©PietroPaolini
Chinoiserie painted chest of drawers

This is a fancifully decorated furniture piece in soft antique blue with rose coloured chinoiserie painted figures and silver leaf. The sinuous lines of this chest of drawers evoke 18th-century Venetian furniture. It was made for a design showroom in Seattle, USA.

Photo: ©PietroPaolini
French Régent harpsichord

Alison Wolley decorated this harpsichord in the French style for Atelier Marc Ducornet in Paris. The light-hearted decoration includes musical putti, colourful drapery and curling leaves on a soft yellow background. Gold leaf lines the edges of the instrument and the Louis IV legs.

Photo: ©Alison Woolley
Shell Study No. 8, Series: A Drop in The Ocean

Made with traditional antique materials, this original drawing on paper features a delicately illuminated shell, decorated with gold leaf and casein paint, which sits on a subtle patterned background.

Photo: ©NicolasMichael
Claviorgan

Alison Woolley was commissioned to recreate the historical Theewes Claviorgan in London’s V&A. This rare instrument combines a harpsichord on the top and an organ in the cabinetry beneath it. The decoration is made with gold leaf, painted strap work and coloured marble against rich black and red backgrounds. Figures inspired by the client’s antique print collection, from mythology and the zodiac, are painted on the inside of the lid.

Photo: ©Alison Woolley
Shell Study No. 6, Series: A Drop in the Ocean

This small gilded panel, measuring 10cm by 15cm, features a delicate shell painted in egg tempera, suspended among intricate patterns. These evoke 17th-century engraved decorations from Florentine astronomical instruments.

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