Photo of the artist by Alexandra Trowbridge-Matthews

Adrian Paul Metcalfe was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, in 1960, moving to South Wales with his parents in 1970. School in Barry was followed by study at Howard Gardens School of Art & Design in Cardiff and Coventry, Lanchester Polytechnic, completing a Fine Art B.A. (Hons) Degree in 1982. Since then, he has worked as a professional artist, occupying many studios in Cardiff from 1987, currently based at Oriel Canfas Gallery and studio complex in Glamorgan Street, Canton. Living in Cardiff since 1989, he has recently returned to live in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan. Regular one person and group exhibitions have showcased his work. The last few years have seen a number of major shows. Most recently'The Search for Verrazzano's Sea' Art Central Gallery, Barry, 2009 and the 'The Exploration of Verrazzano's Sea', Ceri Richards Gallery, Taliesin Arts Centre, Swansea, 2010. He has also organised three group-touring shows of work by other artists in recent years. Posts as artist in residence have taken his work to a wide audience in Wales and elsewhere, leading in 1996 to a residency in the Shetland Islands. From 1989 to 2000, he taught painting and Life Drawing for the Community Education Service at many centres around Cardiff. From 1998 until the present, he has taught Art and Design at Cardiff and Vale College.

His works include paintings in watercolours, oils, acrylics, as well as printmaking, artist's books, mixed media, photography, collage and occasional video pieces. Most works are a personal response to the world in which we live and the experience on being. Often intense studies of particular places explore the effects of light and colour associated with the passing of time. The aim is to create unique records of atmosphere and experience. Recent works have developed the theme of the voyage as a metaphor for the creative journey and constant passage of the individual through time.