By Maurice Gent -
A well-known British landscape painter has been in Oman in recent days preparing a present for Queen Elizabeth. He has been composing a picture with an Omani theme, which is to be presented to the Queen during her State Visit to the Sultanate. Alan Reed, from Northumbria in the North East of England is no stranger to Oman. He has been here many times painting the Souk, the Grand Mosque and dhows on the beach at Sur. Sur was one of the places he visited during his most recent visit to the Sultanate.
Alan works on location by capturing scenes both by camera and in a small watercolour sketchbook which is with him all times. A limited edition facsimilie of this book has been produced on handmade paper, bound in red leather in a slip case. Each book is numbered and signed by the artist. Copies of this exquisite book are available from www.all-manahil-books.com. A proportion of the proceeds of the sales will be donated to 40 for 40, a British Scholarships for Oman initiative under which 40 selected Omani students will be awarded scholarships to enrol at UK affiliated colleges in Oman. A copy of this book will be presented to both the Queen and His Majesty Sultan Qaboos.
The Royal Art Collection of Queen Elizabeth is certainly among the most famous in the world. The new Oman/UK links being established during the State Visit to the Sultanate will thus have an artistic dimension along with talks about co-operation at many levels.
The Queen is being accompanied by Britain’s Foreign Secretary William Haig, and during the visit discussions are expected about ties between the two nations at all levels. It is therefore fitting that artistic links are not forgotten.
The art community here is well aware of Alan’s work. He recently exhibited his water colours in April this year here in Muscat at the Bait Muzna Gallery along with another British artist well known for his works on Oman, Malcolm MacGregor.
Alan’s 30 years experience as a water colourist clearly showed, when he spoke to the Observer. He has a very deep love and respect for Oman and its beauty like other UK citizens, who have either visited many times or taken up residence here. His artist’s eye was fascinated with the landscape, the people and 
architecture of Oman.
He is based in a beautiful part of the United Kingdom, Northumbria, which has a grand and impressive scenery of its own. With a reputation built up over 30 years of painting many collectors now beat their way to his studios. His works are collected very widely now that he has been included in a standard global work called ‘Landscapes in Watercolour’ by Theodora Philcox, which brings together the work of leading water colour painters throughout the world. He is represented in both private and corporate collections.
Now he will have a new honour — his work on Oman being presented to the collection of the Queen on the occasion of a State Visit to the Sultanate.
