London: Jesuit alumnus takes world of art by storm

Kelvin Okafor's Mother Teresa

A series of pencil drawings by a former pupil of St Ignatius College in Enfield has been amazing art critics. Kelvin Okafor, from Tottenham, has scooped a number of national awards and exhibited at galleries across the country. Drawings by the 27-year-old graduate who attended the Jesuit school in North London before Middlesex University are often mistaken for photographs.

Okafor's portraits now command as much as £10,000 each. His subjects have included Amy Winehouse, Tinie Tempah and Mother Teresa.

He has more than 50 commissions to his name and awards including the Catherine Petitgas Visitors' Choice Prize, part of the National Open Art Competition. His portraits have also been exhibited at The Mall Galleries in central London as part of the Threadneedle Prize Exhibition.

Before the artist puts the pencil to paper, he spends days analysing his source photographs, concentrating first on the eyes before using thousands of pencil strokes to build detail showing every pore and hair.

"The attention I'm receiving is surreal and hasn't really sunk in yet," he told his local Tottenham and Wood Green Journal. "I'm usually sheltered from it in my studio as I continue to build my portfolio, but I'm really humbled and honoured that so many people appreciate my work. I hope to have my own gallery in the future."

Okafor's works will be on display until 3 February at the Works on Paper/Watercolour Fair at the Science Museum in London.

Watch a film about Kelvin on Youtube here: www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ERbNHY5bX28#!