About the artist
“ The dramatic, mysterious and theatrical nature of characters I see at festivals and community events inspires my work. To heighten the sense of drama I use strong tonal contrasts and most often place the figure or figures centrally, looming large relative to the visual field”

Alannah is chiefly a printmaker, but also paints, draws and works in collage. She has over 20 years of Art Practice. Her art awards include  The Tyree Tycan Prints Prize, Works on Paper in 2005 and The Wingecarribee Shire Council Works on Paper, Prints in 2011 at the Berrima District Art Society. In the Waverley Art Prize she won the Printmaking Prize in 2007 and the Mayor’s prize in 2009. She has twice won Art Visions Art Award at St Mary’s Star of the Sea, Wollongong in 2003 and then again in 2007. She has received several awards at Thirroul Seaside & Arts Festival including First Prize in 2003.

She has exhibited several times at Wollongong City Gallery. In 2004, she was invited to be part of  25 Takes- Imaging the Illawarra and she had a 2-person show with Gillian Day Mask And Symbol in 2012. Then in 2022 Alannah exhibited in Lore, Themes of Locus, Lore and Lure .

Alannah has had several solo shows including an invitation Solo show at Illawarra Performing Arts Centre in 2006 and at Hanging Space in 2014 . Alannah was invited to exhibit in the curated group exhibitions Feeling The Heat at Clifton School of Arts in 2014 .In 2022 Alannah exhibited in Divergence at M2 gallery, Surry Hills. In 2023, she was part of Reach Exhibition, IAVA at Gallery Lane Cove and Creative Studios.

Alannah is a member of Illawarra Association of Visual Artists and Project Contemporary Artspace. She has works in the public collections of Wollongong City Gallery, Waverley Council and St Mary’s Star of the Sea, Wollongong.

“ has a kind of grumpy guardian spirit overlooking the proceedings – Alannah Dreise’s King of Green. This dominating figure, arms akimbo, was inspired by an actual theatrical character seen at local Festivals. There is a connection, though, to the ancient Pagan tradition of the “Green Man” – a pre-literary deity, the personification of all that is living, green and sacred. How appropriate that the King greets us early in a show  which contains so many works expressing ecological concerns”. Review by Moira Kirkwood of Feeling The Heat 2014

“I like the etching because of its Quirky subject matter and free use and simplicity of colour” Judges Comment, Max Miller  Wingecarribee Shire Council Works On Paper 2011, First Prize Prints Section

“Energetic ground fluidity richness of texture enigmatic figure growing out of process.” Judges Comment Ann Judell Tyree/Tycan Print Prize 2005.