Artwork
Alan Furneaux was born in London in 1953. He left Secondary Modern School at 17 and studied at Reigate School of Art for two years where he learnt "how to roll a cigarette, drink cider and listen to the words of Bob Dylan`s ‘Freewheelin" In fact, the impact that his two years at art school made on his painting was so small that he actually considers himself to be self-taught.
His early years were spent as a musician which was his passion until his late 30`s. He moved to Brighton in 1985, and found a room near his Grandfather, George Hann’s studio. George was an established painter and they developed a mutual friendship that orbited around painting, discussions about Jack Kerouac, George's life as a painter, and the works that they were currently engaged in. He knew then that he was going to be a painter for life. Today he lives and works on the Penwith coast in Cornwall. Two years ago, Alan developed a condition called Devics, a neurological condition similar to MS. Although he was paralysed and unable to walk for four months, he has recovered enough to walk, swim and do a little bit of dancing.
Alan's works are complex layers and juxtapositions of playful shapes and colours, guiding the eye from one passage to another. He works from memory, allowing the work to bubble up from the unconscious mind, building up, destroying then rebuilding in an effort to be as authentic as possible.
A colourist at heart Alan paints in oils and acrylics on canvas and his work can be found in major UK galleries. He is a member of the Association of British Naive Artists.
