West coast artist Alan Nakano spent his formative years among boats, working summers on his father’s fishing boat. After graduating from the Vancouver School of Art, Alan earned his BA at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. Following his formal training, he worked as a freelance illustrator, then as an art director for a large national advertising agency. Since 1989 he has pursued his dream of painting full time.

His love for the sea draws him to nautical themes. His limited edition prints of cruise ships now grace homes and offices of collectors around the world. Holland America Line includes 22 of his originals in its shipboard art collection. In the year 2000, the first time he entered a painting in the Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport’s, 21st Annual International Maritime Exhibition, he won a coveted Award of Excellence. In the gallery’s 24th Annual juried exhibit in 2003, he won two awards, the Museum Purchase Award and the David Thimgan Award. He is one of Maritime Gallery at Mystic Seaport’s core group of artists.

Alan is also represented in the Vancouver by the Harrison Galleries and the Marshall Clark Galleries in White Rock , B.C. where he exhibits his west coast and close ups of creation paintings.