SHARED LIGHT - ALAN YING

Alan Ying (b. Hong Kong) is a London-based artist who balances a career in cyber security engineering with a dedicated practice in charcoal drawing. Self-taught through sustained independent study, his work explores emotional depth through the interplay of light, shadow and texture.

Influenced by the gestural intensity of Frank Auerbach, the dramatic chiaroscuro of Caravaggio, and the luminous precision of Adolph von Menzel, Alan uses charcoal’s tonal range to excavate and express complex human sentiments. His compositions balance raw energy with careful observation, allowing light to emerge from darkness with quiet force.

He was recently featured in the Summer Exhibition 2025 at Tower Gallery, Plaistow.