Kelvin Okafor is a renowned hyperrealist pencil artist whose portraits of both celebrities and ordinary people have appeared in sell-out solo shows and TV art programmes. Here, he talks about his upbringing on a north London council estate, the turning points in his career, his process that takes many hours of concentration working both from photographs and from life, his current series that highlights people with skin differences and conditions, and his work in schools.

Kelvin Okafor talking with Bob Chaundy

Accompanying images on consideringart.com

Sisters Emmelin and Pauline

John Lennon

Adam

Mia Cadman

All images are © Kelvin Okafor

You can see more of Kelvin’s images on his website

Music: Ibiza by MBB | https://soundcloud.com/mbbofficial