Every painting is a
journey. A journey that begins with no clear conception of the end
result. From the first mark on the blank canvas begins the process of
building an image that ultimately will have a distinctive character of its own
and contain within it a historical record of the process of creativity.
The journey does not stop there. A new relationship begins between the
painting and those who come to view it. Without exhibition the painting
remains incomplete. A statement that is,
according to the periodical Diario do Sul a direct quote from the artist.

Perhaps for
Alfora the journey is near completion. Art, for him, started as a
hobby in mid life leading to an honors degree in Fine Art at Staffordshire
University.
Further studies at Wolverhampton and Manchester
Metropolitan
University
took him to Master’s level. He also taught at local colleges and at Staffordshire
University.
Exhibitions in England
included prestigious locations such as Manchester Academy,
The Royal West of England Academy, Royal Festival Hall and The Barbican in London
as well as with The Printmakers Council. The introduction to art for
Alfora was the discovery of J M W Turner in the Tate gallery, London.
Influenced by the study of light, of which Turner was the master, the work of
Alfora is complimented by a palette based on the colours used by Rembrandt,
Delacroix and Bonnington. Brought into this, through studies based on
derelict buildings and a continuing interest in architectural structures, is
the depiction of line and structure of buildings within a field of
colour. The breaking of the boundaries came with the discovery of the
work of Raul Duffy and John Piper which, for Alfora, brought brighter colour
through which the subject takes on a translucence allowing the viewer freedom
of interpretation. The move from semi-representational landscape to
abstract symbolism was a natural one.

The majority of the
paintings of Alfora have a historical content. The scenes of Portugal, from
1998 to 2002, are based on places of historical interest and often painted in
an abstract style yet containing symbolic representation. The later work
used this concept to symbolically represent ancient historical places in an
abstract manner. From this developed the more abstract work of the last
few years which forms the bulk of recent exhibitions. The use of paint
and collage produces a vibrancy of colour and form which relates to the imagery
and culture of the places which inspired the work.

He has had a number
of individual shows since moving to Portugal and was a founder member
of Blank Canvas,� a self-help group of painters that worked from 2001 to
2007 with other artists to exhibit and promote quality art work. The
group had a history of exhibiting with other professionals which included
Antonio Couvinha, Jessica Dunn, Valerie Bornand, Costa Pinhero, Vincent
de Brito, Guilherme Parente, Pedro Pinto Coelho and José Delgado Martin.
Over this seven year period they exhibited widely in the Algarve and also in other regions
and countries.