Artist says recent media attention is ‘unbelievable’ (From Times Series)

Tottenham artist Kelvin Okafor says recent media attention is ‘unbelievable’

1:49pm Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News By Bruce Thain

A Tottenham artist whose lifelike drawings attracted worldwide attention says the coverage is "unbelievable".

Kelvin Okafor was propelled into the media spotlight earlier this year after appearing on television and has now started to sell his work around the world.

His work includes intricate pencil drawings of singer Amy Winehouse, Mother Teresa and Beyonce and examples will be on display at the British Artists Annual Exhibition at the Mall Galleries in The Mall, central London this weekend.

The 27-year-old said: "It was unbelievable. The week before this all happened I was in my studio having an average week, and the next I was on TV and being Tweeted about by Tinie Tempah and Wretch 32.

“Before I would hope to sell one piece a month, but since I've sold five. It was an unexpected but amazing boost for my career.

"I've even had feedback from Corinne Bailey Rae to say she likes my portrait of her, and sent Queen Noor of Jordan my drawing of the late King Hussein as a gift, and she responded to say she was delighted."

The Middlesex University Fine Art graduate does all his work at his Tottenham studio, spending up to 100 hours on each piece.