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 No
other artist has captured the age of elegance like Alan Maley. His romantic
images allow the viewer to step back to a simpler time of rustling satins and
silks, carriage rides to the theater, and play at the shore.
Born and raised in England, Alan came from an artistic and
talented family and always wanted to be an artist. After attending Reigate Art
College, he had to choose to attend the prestigious Royal Academy School in
London or enter the movie industry as an apprentice artist. He chose the
glittering world of the movies, serving a long and arduous apprenticeship for
five years.
He trained as a scenic artist but this career was abruptly
cut short when he contracted polio. Alan spent a year convalescing and learning
to walk again. This time was also a crucial turning point in his life as he
realized that he would no longer be able to paint the physically demanding large
canvas backdrops. He was given the opportunity to become a continuity sketch
artist and then entered the magical world of special effects as a matte artist.
His talents were recognized by Walt Disney who brought Alan to America. He was
honored by his peers with an Academy Award for his visual effects in the Disney
movie Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Maley's artistry can also be seen in
other movies, such as The Spy Who Loved Me, Dr. Strangelove, Beckett,
and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Even while busily involved in the movie industry, Alan Maley
found time to devote to his own paintings. His love of the 19th century and his
extensive research into the period are evident in his work. Stimulating
activities and everyday events are beautifully interwoven with historic locales
to create intriguing vignettes of people and places in a more gracious era. His
paintings, limited editions prints, and canvases are eagerly sought by
collectors throughout the world.
The world lost a talented artist and an extraordinary man
when Alan Maley suddenly passed away at the age of 64 in 1995. His genteel and
loving personality traits will live on, however, in the beauty and charm of his
paintings for years to come.
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