Born and brought up in a Welsh mining town in the Rhymney Valley, Al’s name derives from his Greek grandfather. Al graduated from Cardiff with a BA Honours Degree in Fine Art.

The human figure is Al’s source of inspiration. He captures the beauty and moment of contemplation in his figures. Al’s paintings has an enduring quality, he is as interested in the way the paint is applied and the structure of the paintings, as much as he is in the subject matter.

The natural world and its continual transformation are central themes throughout the work. The connection between people and the environment is at the heart of the practice and the impact of climate change has become an increasingly present concern in recent pieces. One particular body of work titled Nothing Gold Can Say, draws inspiration from a poem by Robert Frost. In the poem, Frost reflects on the fleeting nature of beauty and innocence, using the shifting seasons as a metaphor for the inevitable cycles of growth, decline and renewal.

In more recent ‘portrait works, Al introduces the motif of gentle breeze. This subtle movement is used symbolically to suggest the delicate and unpredictable changes we are now witnessing in the climate around us.

Al regards himself as a figurative painter but not a realist painter. The realism that he is interested in is the emotional connection made when making or looking at a painting. Al’s work has been described as being able to conjure a feeling of thoughtful introspection. Paintings that are beautiful as well as interesting, contemporary as well as classical; something timeless.’

Al’s work is in collections and galleries both in the UK and abroad.