Is there anything more captivating than a characterful face? A distinctive shape, individual haircut and kaleidoscopic eyes all make up a person. And for this series of paintings, characterisation is offered by the bucket load.

Alana Richards is a Berlin-based painter originally from Ireland. After wandering, studying and living impulsively, the artist moved to Paris and then into the depths of Berlin in 2008.

Drawing from an eclectic range of influences and rich experiences, Richards' work focuses on portraiture and an interest that lies in "capturing the soul of her subject", as well as revealing subtle insights into herself.

The initial photo sessions for each new work are a vital part of the process, as a close interaction with the subject sparks initial ideas, which are drawn and then painted with oil.

Her technique is borrowed from artists such as Degas and Manet, and although the paintings are classically composed, the result has a freshness that is contemporary. Layers, then, are often built up and torn apart, only to be rebuilt again, often giving the subject a complex and hidden history within the frame. Discover more at alanarichards.co.uk.