Biography

Alastair Adams subjects have included law lords, judges, university professors, senior naval officers, merchant bankers, stockbrokers, surgeons, principals, chancellors and private families. Although his home and studio are in the small village of Parbold in West Lancashire, he travels both nationally and internationally as he enjoys an enviable reputation as a portrait artist.

Alastair has his own distinctive approach to portraiture that is more informal than traditional work. ‘I don’t go in for formal portraiture’ he said. ‘I prefer to make my subjects look more natural and unassuming - more human if you like - rather than posed. I want my portraits to be easy to live with and to capture the essence of that person. A portrait isn’t just about painting an accurate likeness of a person, that's the starting point.’

Alastair, who grew up in Formby near Southport in the North West of England, trained as an illustrator at Leicester Polytechnic where he developed an interest in figure drawing and painting. In 1992 he set up in business as an illustrator, designer and commisioned artist, undertaking commissions from both national and international clients and institutions.

Following exposure at the National Portrait Gallery's BP Portrait Award, Alastair was asked to work on several high profile institutional commissions from The University of London and the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. The subjects for these commissions included Lord Woolf, Lord Chief Justice, Lord Nolan, Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and Lord Scarman, after his inquiry into the Brixton riots.

The following year after exhibiting with the Royal Society of Portrait Painters he was offered representation by the society and proved to be a popular, regularly commissioned non-member. Consequently he progressed to full membership in 2003 and is currently an elected council member and director.

Alastair's unique approach to portraiture allows him the opportunity to produce work that engages with his strong, observationally based, drawing and painting skills whilst exploring representation, interaction, character, body language and expresssion. Consequently, many of his paintings have been exhibited in high profile national juried exhibitions and won him awards from the Royal Society of Portrait Painters (RSPP), the Changing Faces Foundation, the National Acrylic Painters Association, Daler Rowney, Windsor and Newton, Forsline and Starr and the Artist Magazine.

He describes portraiture as ‘part art and part sociology.’ He added; ‘I find people interesting and I am also interested in what makes them tick. I like to study my subjects for a while before I start painting them.’ Not all of his clients are distinguished national figures. People from various walks of life have commissioned him to paint members of their family or themselves.

‘I like to produce something that will stand the test of time’ he said, ‘a painting needs to look fresh and lively and right for that subject years later. I am always striving to produce better and better work. I never want to get into a groove churning out the same sort of portraits year in and year out. As every person is unique so are my portraits.’ -Top-

Published Work

“The Story so Far”, The Manchester Academy History to date.
ISBN 0-9546440-0-X

“The Readers Digest Complete Portrait Course”, by Readers Digest.
ISBN 0-276-42829-3

“Portraits” by Barnes and Noble.
ISBN 0-7607-5247-8

“Portrait painting in Oils”, by Jenny Rodwell and Studio Vista.
ISBN 90-213-2214-5

“Landscape Drawing and Painting”, by Patricia Monahan and Readers Digest.
ISBN 0-276-42359-3

“Collins Art Class”, published by Harper Collins and Ink Link.
ISBN 0-00-413376-5

“Artists’ Rescue Tactics”, by Sally Bulgin and Harper Collins.
ISBN 0-00-718414-X

“Paint! Figure and Portrait”, By Betsy Hosegood, published by Rotovision.
ISBN 2-88046-421-8

“The Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Open Exhibition Catalogue” 2004, 2005.

“The Art of Drawing and Painting”, issues 17, 47, 49, 86, 125,127, 135 and 137.

“The Step By Step Art Course”, issues 39, 49, 57, 59, 60, 65, 74, Christmas Special, 82 and 83 by DeAgostini Publications.

“Artist and Illustrator Magazine”, Jan ‘00 two page feature.

“Artist Magazine”, April ‘99 and April ‘02 portrait commission features.

“Lancashire Life Magazine”, June’00 four page portrait feature

Features also found in the “Leisure Painter” magazine, and the “Daler Rowney Art Paper”.

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