Allen Montague is a native North Carolinian who began his creative career at age 13. A college background in business and marketing led him to begin his own clothing accessory line. This interest in color and design was an easy segue into paints and canvas.

Two years after becoming a self-taught fine art painter, Montague’s work was being catalogued by the International Art Auction House of Sotheby’s in New York. Soon after, Montague began to produce not only fine art originals, but he published hundreds of limited and open edition prints, which were displayed in his own art galleries and elsewhere. For the next 17-plus years Montague painted, published, and continued to design and invent — and taught himself to finger paint in the style of French Impressionists. Montague also hosted and produced The Southern Palette television show for seven years.

Over the years, Montague has shared his talent, love of people, and art where viewers could actually paint along with him, no matter what their experience level. Montague is a National Lifetime Artist for Ducks Unlimited and a principle fund-raiser and artist for many charity organizations including Multiple Sclerosis, Child Advocacy, The American Cancer Society, and The American Lung Association. He has also taken his finger painting easel and paints into hospitals so that adults and children can participate. These events lift spirits and self-esteem, often at a critical time in many of these patients’ lives.