I'm Bringing Alan Back!
Grab a brew & I'll tell you my story...
Who the 'eck is Alan?
You may have guessed it, I'm Alan! I know, probably not a name you'd associate with neon pink text and psychedelic coloured artwork, but that's me and that's what I'm all about - being unique and challenging the norm!
I've loved being creative since I was a young lad and I've always found it easier to express myself through my artwork rather than words. When I was four, my mum entered my drawing of a dragon into a competition and I won her and my dad tickets to see Pretty Woman... And so it began.
I would draw in my lunch hour at school, and the other kids would gather round to watch me doodle. Most lessons, I would be sketching in the back of my books as I listened. Art resonated with me and sparked something - it became the path I wanted to go down.
Art With Heart ❤
Every single piece of my artwork has been created from the heart, they're like a warm hug, and you'll find a story behind each piece. Some inspired by my own funny or emotional little memories and others by yours!
I love hearing your stories about our amazing city and home, especially when I can re-create them as a piece of art, forever capturing a snapshot of somewhere which means a lot to you.
It's in the Detail.
Whenever I sit down and begin a piece, whether it's a commission or new artwork, my starting point is the story and the little details that capture it perfectly.
Some places no longer exist, whilst some still stand today, and they're all steeped in our memories.
Detail matters. For example, if you first met your partner at The Roxy Disco, a picture is so much more personal when things like the outfits you were wearing that night and the tipple you ordered at the bar are all exactly the same as you remember. These details all add up to make your piece really personal and really yours!
It could be a big statement piece in your living room or a cheeky little print in the downstairs loo - Your artwork will be admired by guests and certainly a talking point!
Who Inspires me?
Growing up, my grandparents would buy me The Beano every week. I was so drawn to the illustration style and characters, I would sit for hours on end replicating the comic strips by eye.
A little older, I saw Nick Park's, "The Wrong Trousers" and discovered the world of animation. I adored the nods his work has to everyday life in Britain - teapots with cosies on, cheese & crackers and everything being solved by a cup of tea. I was so inspired, I went on to study Animation and Design at University.
The bright colours of urban street art certainly come through in my artwork too, as do the thick black lines inspired by my favourite graffiti artist, Keith Haring.
My work takes me all over the country, but my home town of Sheffield is still one of my biggest inspirations. It's where I grew up, and it's full of memories for so many.
But most of all, it's people's memories and stories that inspire me. I never tire of hearing how couples met or of places which mean more than words can describe. It's always an honour to create pieces which encapsulate that feeling forever.
❤
Want to say Hello?
GIVE ME A CALL