He won the Oscar for Best Special Effects, and after his retirement, he devoted himself to painting, and his landscapes are blockbusters!

Peter Ellenshaw

Peter Allenshaw

United Kingdom, (1913- 2007)

Peter Ellenshaw (1913-2007) was a special effects matte painter at Disney Studios who won the Academy Award for Best Special Effects for the film Mary Poppins. Born in London on May 24, 1913, he emigrated to the United States in 1953. As an artist, Peter Allenshaw's style straddles realism and impressionism. His landscapes range from deserts to mountains to woodlands and fields.

He first painted matte for producer Alexander Korda on films such as The Coming Thing (1936) and later assisted his mentor W. (Walter) Percy Day in works by Powell and Pressberg such as Black Narcissus (1947). A few years later, although he was still working in Europe, he began working for Hollywood studios.

He worked for MGM in Quo Vadis (1951), but his most extensive association with Walt Disney Studios began with their first fully live-action film, Treasure Island (1950). He went on to work for the 20,000 Undersea League (1954) and Mary Poppins (1964), for which he won an Oscar. He retired after completing work on Black Hole (1979), but contributed matte paintings to Dick Tracy (1990). His son, Harrison, is also an Oscar-winning effects designer.

After retiring from the film industry, Peter Allenshaw devoted his life to his passion for painting. Many works have been created, including Disney and non-Disney-themed themes, and are highly collectible. In 1993, he was named a Disney Legend.

Peter Allenshaw's paintings include acrylic and oil on canvas, and he also produced hand-signed prints, including a set of 50 Winnie-the-Pooh giclee on canvas. His limited edition prints are well worth collecting. His panoramic, mist-shrouded seascapes are prized and have received awards from prestigious museums and associations.