| Biography |
| 1950 - 1959 |
|
| 1929 |
Born England |
| 1941 |
Pearson family moves to Middlesborough. Attends Ayresome North Elementary School. |
| 1942 |
Leaves school to work on the Railways as cleaner, locomotive fireman. |
| 1947-48 |
National service in Airforce. |
| 1949 |
Returns to work on the Railways. |
| 1951 |
Emigrates to Australia (Tasmania) on the 'Ten Pound Scheme' as a steam locomotive fireman. |
| 1952-53 |
Works on the Snowy Mountain Scheme as a bulldozer driver and barman. |
| 1953 |
Returns to England for 3 months, travels to Canada and works in Toronto and Edmonton. |
| 1953-54 |
Returns to Australia on the Orion steamship. Works as a seaman on Australian coastal interstate liners. Visits New Zealand on the M.V. Wanganella. |
| 1954 |
November, arrives in New Zealand, works on shipping vessels |
| 1956 |
Attends classes at Wellington Technical College, Wellington for Fine Arts preliminary examinations. |
| 1957 |
Moves to Christchurch, attends University of Canterbury School of Fine Arts. |
| 1958 |
Lives at 22 Armagh St. Rosa Sawtell Prize for life drawing. |
| 1959 |
Awarded Bickerton-Widdowson Scholarship. Graduates with a Diploma in Fine Arts. |
| 1960 - 1969 |
|
| 1960 |
Attends Auckland Teacher Training College. Marries Coral Holster. Son Alan born. |
| 1961 |
Returns to Christchurch, completes a Diploma in Fine Arts with Honours (First Class) at the University of Canterbury. |
| 1962 |
Begins teaching full-time at Cashmere High School, Christchurch. Lives at Sumner. Invited to exhibit with "The Group". |
| 1963 |
Son Justin born. |
| 1964 |
Awarded Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council Scholarship to study at the Royal Academy Schools, London, 1965-66 |
| 1966 |
Returns to New Zealand over land through Europe, Afghanistan, India and Asia. |
| 1967 |
Living in Parnell, Auckland working as a designer for Television AKTV2. |
| 1969 |
First solo exhibition held at Vulcan Gallery. House at Parnell destroyed by fire. Resigns from television and moves to Christchurch. |
| 1970 - 1979 |
|
| 1970 |
Part-time teaching at Kingsley Girls' School |
| 1971 |
First solo exhibition in Canterbury at the CSA (Canterbury Society of Arts). |
| 1972 |
Moves to live at 15 Selwyn Road, Lyttelton. Marriage with Coral ends. Begins relationship with Deirdre Tupper. |
| 1976 |
Meets Alison Foley. Awarded Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council of NZ travelling grant. Four month tour to USA, France, Spain, Italy, Germany and the UK. Moves to Auckland with Alison and children. |
| 1977 |
Living at Northcote. Begins painting works inspired by the Huia forests, Waitakere. |
| 1978 |
Awarded National Bank Portrait Prize for "Herne Bay Couple". |
| 1979 |
Awarded National Bank Portrait Prize for the "Portrait of Mrs Oliver". |
| 1980 - 1989 |
|
| 1980 |
Travels to Italy, town of Matera, Basilicata. |
| 1981 |
Moves to Middlesbrough, England then to London. Marries Alison. Painting in Tuscany. |
| 1982-85 |
London; visits to Italy, France. |
| 1985 |
Returns to New Zealand in June. Tutors life classes in Christchurch. Daughter Eleanor (Nellie) born. |
| 1986-87 |
Artist in residence at Otago Polytechnic and Dunedin Public Art Gallery. Tutors life drawing. |
| 1987 |
Returns to Christchurch. Studio at the Christchurch Arts Centre. |
| 1988 |
August-September travels to Italy, Germany, UK. |
| 1990 - 1999 |
|
| 1991 |
Biography "Alan Pearson: his life and art" by Denys Trussell published by Hazard Press, Christchurch. Television NZ documentary (Howard Taylor, director). Radio NZ Spectrum programme interview with Deborah Nation. |
| 1992 |
April - painting at Lightning Ridge, NSW, Australia. June-July travels to France, Italy, USA, England, Germany. Moves to Oxford St. Lyttelton. |
| 1993 |
Visits West Coast, South island, NZ. May-June Artist in residence at Tai Poutini Polytechnic, Greymouth. Guest artist at Nelson Polytechnic. Television NZ documentary, director Virginia Wright. |
| 1995 |
Painting at Whitecliffs, NSW, Australia. |
| 1996 |
Moves studio to old Lyttelton Borough Council Chambers. Exhibits in Sydney, Australia. |
| 1997 |
Visits England, Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Austria. |
| 1998 |
Diagnosed with heart condition, undergoes surgery. |
| 1999 |
July travels to Australia. Retrospective exhibition "Heaven and blood:painting and drawing" by Alan Pearson 1959-1999, Robert McDougall Art Gallery, Christchurch, August-October. |
| 2000 - 2009 |
|
| 2000 |
Studios in Lyttelton and Tewantin, Queensland. |
| 2001 |
Solo exhibition Noosa Regional Gallery, Queensland. Visits England, "Mathera Mostra" exhibition at Enrico Filipucci Gallery, Matera, Italy. Builds new studio at Weyba Downs, Queensland. |
| 2003 |
S.H.Erwin Gallery Sydney,Salon des Refuses (self portrait in my tin shed). Begins Bush Symphony series, Weyba Downs. |
| 2004 |
Exhibits at Ardor Gallery, Auckland, group show. "Here I am" solo show at Addison Road Gallery, Sydney.Travels to England, Germany. |
| 2005 |
"Recent Australian paintings" solo show at Arthouse, Christchurch. West Coast paintings solo show, Artigiano, Auckland. Grandchild Oliver born London. |
| 2006 |
Finalist Doug Moran Portrait Exhibition, Sydney. "Saving the Classical Spirit" solo show Artigiano Gallery, Auckland. Travels to England, Spain, Germany. |
| 2007 |
"Looking eastward to the sea" solo show Sanderson Gallery (formerly Artigiano), Auckland. Grandchild Grace born London. |
| 2008 |
Talks on portraiture at Auckland Art Gallery, New Gallery, February, during "Likeness and Character", portrait exhibition. "Within, within..." solo show City Art Rooms, Auckland; "Metaphors" solo show Sanderson gallery. |
