Rachael Allen: biography
Rachael Allen was born in 1984, and is a visual artist living and working in Newcastle upon Tyne. On graduating in 2008, Allen has established an expertise in miniature model making and drawing, exhibits regularly nationwide and internationally, and achieves artwork sales, commissions and residencies. Currently artist in residence at Newcastle, Northumbria and Durham University anatomy labs, the artist is orchestrating various projects exploring the role of visual art in anatomy and medical pedagogy, whilst also situating her practice within the Medical Humanities nationwide. The artist is also involved in arts related community work and public engagement projects with science organisations in the North, including International Centre for Life and Science City.
Website: www.rachaelallen.com
Blog: http://allen-mortalart.blogspot.co.uk
“A plant long held to have magical and aphrodisiacal powers is the mandrake, whose divided root bears some resemblance to a human form…Better authenticated was its use in syrup as a cure for insomnia and as a general anaesthetic, and at least one modern manufacturer uses active ingredient of mandrake as the basis of sleeping tablets.” (John Camp, Magic, Myth and Medicine,1973)