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 main source of inspiration. His paintings are composed often of a single figure stripped of any obvious narrative. His work has an enduring quality and pose many questions. Strong light and dark pools of shadows are a feature of the work. He is as interested in the way the paint is applied and the structure of the paintings, as he is in the subject matter.
He says, ‘I regard myself as a figurative painter but not a realist painter. The realism that I am interested in is the emotional connection made when making or looking at a painting. My work has been described as being able to conjure a feeling of thoughtful introspection. I use a restricted number of models to try and achieve my aim, which is to create something that is beautiful as well as interesting, contemporary as well as classical; something timeless.’