Alan Taylor was born in 1933, and arrived in New Zealand in 1953.

An expressionist painter, Alan's achievement is to have established a language that is unique to his work and which crosses cultural boundaries; the imagery and symbolism of Maori generations being evocative of the Urewera forest and hill country of prophets Te Kooti, Rikirangi and Rua Kenana and their followers, incorporating potent iconography that is the artist's own. Alan is responding to his understanding of Maori, religious and political ideologies of the 19th and 20th century, which are underlined by a powerful protest symbolism.

Also an author, Alan has written books relating to Maori and European culture in New Zealand.

Alan's artistic career spans 40 years. The inspiration for his art is not so much taken from a literal view of experience but also a powerful surreal, subconscious response to Maori landscape, history and tradition.