Michael Alford

Michael Alford is a distinguished British contemporary artist. Born in Cookham, Berkshire, in 1958 his diverse body of work showcases his passion for painting from striking cityscapes that capture the energy of urban life to evocative landscapes inspired by his global travels. His figurative paintings, both clothed and nude, are admired for their masterful draughtsmanship, keen observational detail, and dramatic presence.

Michael Alford’s love of painting began in childhood, guided by his father, a Royal Engineers colonel, who taught him the principles of perspective drawing. He later honed his skills at the Slade School of Fine Art and Chelsea School of Art.

Travel has played a vital role in shaping Michael Alford’s artistic vision, leading him to destinations across North Africa, India, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and North America. His experience extends to serving as an official war artist for the British Military on three occasions. In 2011 and 2013, he accompanied troops to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, and in 2016, he was commissioned for a project in Iraq.

Michael Alford has won multiple awards including the Stanley Guiness Prize (2016) from the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, the Green and Stone Oil Painting Prize, the Agnes Reeve Memorial Prize for Best Painting of London, and the Prima Luce Mural Prize. A former council member of the Chelsea Arts Society, he also participated in Sky Arts’ Landscape Artist of the Yearcompetition in 2017.