Artworks by Alan Harris

Alan Harris, contemporary, abstract, figurative, original paintings. Alan, creates original art, paintings and sculptures using oils, watercolours, pastel and mixed media. His contemporary art go from traditional images depicting nostalgic scenes to abstract and semiabstract pieces specially in his sculpture work.
Biography
Born in 1950s London, Alan has always had a flair for being creative. He attended Strand Grammar where, like most schools of the time, academic discipline was paramount. As with most rebellious teenagers, he put those academic qualifications to one side and left school to find his own way, specifically to train as a cabinet maker. His working career has included both blue and white collar work, but he always retained a passion for all things creative.
“My interests in creativity were greatly inspired by my father who spent much of his free time making and mending and sharing his skills with me.”
Alan liked to paint and became engrossed in art and handicrafts around thirty years ago, establishing his own style that has been appreciated by many. His early paintings, mostly simple watercolours, depicted scenes of everyday life. Now he is dedicated full-time to painting and recently has moved on to developing other techniques and experimenting with work in different mediums. Currently, he has studios in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, as well as in Barcelona where he passes long periods working and studying new forms of art.
Alan has been largely influenced by the images of post-war Europe. His work shows scenes from his childhood mixed with stories of his forefathers, creating a personal and intimate world of nostalgia in each of his paintings. Dream-like spaces and empty, cold streets are characteristic of Alan's artwork, but though they may lack people they are still infused with activity. Whether an overflowing dustbin, a cat hiding in the corner, or a forgotten can of Coke, Alan's art reflects life and memories in a way that conjures images of the household and a strong sense of family. Though they may appear empty on the surface, Alan's work inspires the viewer with feelings of both happiness and warm nostalgia. Those very same spaces depicted in Alan's work may well be the streets of London where he was born, a remote village of the Northeast, or a lively street in the beautiful, sunny Whitley Bay where he currently lives, but viewers often find something they recognize among the paint. Each picture is an image created by an artist who relies upon his memory to convey the very issues with it. By refusing to use any sort of photographic reference, Alan is able to truly embody memory in a way that showcases both its importance, wonderfulness, and even its fragility.