Alan was born in Redditch, Worcestershire and studied at Ruskin Hall, Bournville School of Art, Birmingham College of Art and completed his training at Birmingham University

Alan was taught by Norman Neasom RWS, an artist featured on this website with some works for sale

In late-1970s Alan became a research fellow at University of Exeter, and for some years was senior lecturer in charge of painting and art history at Rolle College, Exmouth, resigning in 1982 to paint full-time

Alan has written articles for art magazines and was co-author of a book on child art: Learning and Teaching through Art and Crafts

Exhibitions of his work were shown at exhibitions, including City of Plymouth Art Gallery, City of Exeter Art Gallery and elsewhere throughout the west of England