Alan was born in the city of Norwich in the county of Norfolk, England in 1949. When Alan was still a teenager he started painting whilst attending art classes in Norwich. In his mid-teens he had two paintings accepted for a National Art Exhibition held in London and other major UK cities. Alan rarely picked up a paint brush until he, his wife Susie and daughter Ginny (his other daughter Mandy is married and lives with her husband Adrian in Sheffield) moved out of the city of Norwich into the Norfolk countryside in 1993. They moved to a little West Norfolk village. The village was very...

This beautifully illustrated book will take you through an incredible journey into the mind of Norfolk watercolour artist Alan R. Massen as he describes the inspiration, background and emotional meaning behind a large selection of his paintings, created over a period of twenty years. Over two hundred pictures are included, revealing the artist's enriched life journey from a lively teenager in the emerging pop and rock music scene of the 1960's, through a variety of changing jobs, marriage, family and finally retirement, and how these experiences have influenced his focus and creativity....

This beautifully illustrated book will take you through an incredible journey to the beautiful Greek Island of Skiathos which is the best known of the Sporades Islands. People are drawn by the allure of its beaches along with pretty villages, pine covered hills and a perfect climate. I have in the past written about my garden, my watercolour paintings and now I am focusing on our favourite Greek paradise island of Skiathos. Using examples of my artwork which have been produced by scanning holiday snaps into my computer and then using a piece of art software on my PC which gives them an...

In 2016, Alan R. Massen, the Norfolk watercolour artist, decided to produce this book which he hopes will take the reader on a pictorial journey using some of his favourite paintings and artworks. He believes that every picture tells a story and by using all the colours of the rainbow he hopes that the reader will be inspired to imagine the story behind each painting. I have been very lucky to have been born at a time when education, travel and finances has been available to me and this has permitted me to see many beautiful places, people, animals and other things which I have then tried...

'Norfolk the County of my Birth' is the eighth book that I have had published. I have written about my garden, my watercolour painting, the Greek Island of Skiathos and now we are focusing on the county of my birth Norfolk. It is a celebration of the County of the author's birth in which Norfolk Watercolour Artist Alan R. Massen takes the reader on an artwork journey around Norfolk. I will be using examples of my artwork. These have been produced by scanning photographs into my computer and then using a piece of art software on my PC that gives them an Impressionist effect...a bit like...

Ibiza Island of Dreams focuses on the paradise Spanish holiday island of Ibiza in the warm Mediterranean blue azure sea explored in words and artwork pictures by Norfolk watercolour artist Alan R. Massen. We have holidayed on the island in the past and it really is a journey into the sunshine. Situated just of the coast of Valencia, Ibiza is in the Spanish Balearic Islands and is known across the world as being the party capital of the world. But forget the stereotypical British abroad images you may have of Ibiza, this only accounts for a small part of the island. Step away from the noisy...

Majorca Island in the Sun focuses on the paradise Spanish holiday island of Majorca in the warm Mediterranean blue azure sea explored in words and artwork pictures by Norfolk watercolour artist Alan R. Massen. We have holidayed on the island in the past and it really is a journey into the sunshine. Majorca, the largest island in the Balearics and it may make you think of beach resorts and holidays, but there are plenty of other ways to enjoy both its coastline and the interior. It is a good idea, particularly in autumn and winter when the crowds have gone and the temperature is more...

The paradise Greek holiday island of Thassos in the warm Mediterranean blue azure sea explored in words and artwork pictures. Thassos is the most northerly of the Greek islands in the Aegean island group and it lies just off the Macedonian coast in the north-east of mainland Greece. Fabulously wealthy in ancient times, thanks to large deposits of gold and marble, Thassos nowadays lies outside the top league of Greek holiday islands but it still has as much to offer the visitor. We have been there for our summer holidays on several occasions and enjoyed it very much. Most tourist arrive at...

Welcome to this the 13th book that I have had published. It is called "Mardle and a Troshin' in Norfolk" and as the title suggests it's an old Norfolk boy's ramblings on a journeying through ten months of my everyday life experiences of living in the county of my birth. Although we will start off learning something about the Norfolk dialect. I will not be using it in the main chapters of this book as I realise that nobody outside of Norfolk would have a clue what it meant. For example: hold you hard and co to heck it's a rum load of old Squit See what I mean The...

This book is a pictorial and descriptive journey through the history and splendour of the Cornish fishing village of Mousehole. The village cascades down the steep hillside to its harbour. People have watched the boats come in and out of the harbour for centuries. Mousehole (pronounced "Mowzel") is one of Cornwall's most picturesque hamlets; a stunning collection of yellow-lichened houses, built from the local finely grained Lamorna granite, huddled together around the inner edge of the harbour. Protected from the force of the sea coming across Mounts Bay by two sturdy...