Alex Deveney was a joiner for many years before deciding to put down his hammer and nails, and pick up paper and pencils. 

His first drawing was a self-portrait – and six years on, people are commissioning Alex to create portraits of famous and not-so-famous faces, family members, and much-loved pets. 

Alex, 55, says his creations come to fruition thanks to ‘patience and lots of cups of tea’.

He said: “I really enjoy the process. It calms me down. 

“I never look at it as work or a chore.

“It’s a privilege to be doing it.”

Alex attended Moorfoot Primary and then went to Gourock High. 

When he was around 11 years old, his imagination was captured by H.R. Giger’s sketches for Ridley Scott’s Alien, and he became really interested in concept art. 

Alex Deveney with his drawings of Bjork and Lupita Nyong’o (Image: George Munro) He looked to artists like Ralph McQuarrie, Syd Mead, Ron Cobb, Jean Giraud aka Moebius for inspiration. 

Alex added: “These artists help people visualise what films will look like on screen.

“To imagine these things and be able to draw them is absolutely incredible. 

“I would copy the designs, just because I loved the way they looked and wanted to reproduce them.”

After he left school, Alex took on an apprenticeship at David Tweedale Ltd as a bench joiner. 

He worked there from 1986 to 2002 in a job which involved making and fitting structures like doors, windows, and stairs. 

Alex Deveney (Image: George Munro) Alex created a self-portrait back in 2019, and was encouraged to get his art out there by a family member. 

Over the last six years, he has completed an amazing suite of detailed pencil drawings.

Alex has brought photographs of famous faces including David Bowie, Bjork, Lupita Nyong’o, and Shane McGowan to life on paper, and is currently working on a portrait of Roxy Music frontman Bryan Ferry. 

He’s a big fan of author Sarah Perry, and a drawing he created from a photo she posted of herself on social media ended up on the wall of Cass Art in Glasgow. 

Sarah now owns the drawing, and Alex said that’s all down to the power of social media. 

Alex receives commissions for creating drawings from family photos, and also paints landscapes. 

He said he approaches the drawings from a technical point of view, and tends to draw in two-hour bursts, with a commission taking around eight to 10 hours to complete. 

Alex added: “I don’t think of myself as an artist; I say that I’m an aspiring artist. 

“I work using a grid and go from photo to paper. 

“It’s very specific and the proportions have to be right on the nose. 

“Someone who sits in front of someone or a mirror and paints with oils and no grid is an artist.”

Alex’s self-portrait (Image: Alex Deveney) Alex creates pieces for the Pirate and Bluebell, and is supported in everything he does by his wife Alison and the couple’s sons Jack and Ethan. 

The Gourock dad said people are very emotionally affected by the art he creates. 

Alex added: “People really enjoy it and get a kick out of what I’ve done. 

“It provides a really emotional connection for people.

“I really have to want to draw what I’m drawing and it has to be something interesting and fresh. 

“I just do what I like and hope that people will like it.”

Alex said art should be available to everyone and praised Beacon Arts Centre for hosting its open exhibition. 

He added: “The talent is jaw dropping and it’s all local people. 

“It’s a great showcase for people of all ages. 

“Getting something on the wall there is an incredible confidence boost.”

Alex also regularly pops in to see members of Greenock Art Club at Stables Studio. 

Portrait of Stephen Fry (Image: Alex Deveney) He was recently asked to be part of Garth Ivan’s ‘Artists and Craftsmen of Inverclyde’ photography exhibition and said it was an ‘honour’ to be involved. 

Alex added: “It was such a lovely thing to do. 

“You do have to put your head above the parapet.”

Looking to the future, Alex said he wants to focus on learning new things and improving his skills. 

He said: “I want to focus on just getting better. 

“You can always improve. 

“I never compare myself to other people. 

“I’m not scared to try new things.”





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