AK Profile

Biography

History

Alan King was born in Greenwich, South East London in February 1952. He first started to draw at John Evelyn School in Deptford (mostly in text books which got him the cane on a regular basis!) Once he joined Eltham Green School in 1963 King studied Art under Richard Box and Jim Riddock where he was introduced to the artists of the Surrealist movement. Later King studied the optical illusion work of M. C. Escher and Oscar Reutersvard, plus the architecture and interior design of Frank Lloyd Wright.

JOHN EVELYN SCHOOL, Deptford

ELTHAM GREEN SCHOOL

Becoming an artist

Leaving school in 1968 King began his professional artistic journey by producing his own 'private' artwork while working as a trainee commercial artist in London's highly competitive advertising industry. After just two years he parted with the commercial advertising industry to pursue his own creative ambitions and by the early 1970's he was already exhibiting and selling art across London. Also a published Poet, more recently in prestigious publications such as Art&Prose Magazine in the USA, he continues to create the Surreal in as many different ways that time permits.

The New Media artwork of the Massurrealists are often a source of inspiration for King's work. Now accepted as a member of the Massurrealist Movement himself, and probably the first in the UK, King continues to experiment and explore new methods of artistic expression.

Style

Drawing on his knowledge of computer and commercial design techniques, processes and working methods Alan King has developed his own unique and recognisable style. His vibrant and vividly surreal landscapes bridge the gap between surrealist imagery and New Media technique.

Alan King's style cleverly combines drawing and computer skills. The drawing aspect leaves in the art aspect while the computer portion allows the artist to make some odd, yet intriguing, images with much more clarity than old fashioned drawing and painting can provide. A master of digital technique, King is able to capture and express the images seen in his mind's eye at the point of creation as he surveys the landscape of his vivid imagination.

WHAT THE CRITICS HAVE TO SAY - click HERE

The great men who influences Alan King's Art

To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
    Creeps in this petty pace from day to day to the last syllable of recorded time,
    And all our yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death.  Out, out, brief candle!
    Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
    Signifying nothing.

MacBeth Act V Scene V