Samuel Owusu Achiaw (b.1993 Accra, Ghana) is a pencil artist who specialises in portraiture and hyperrealism. A professionally trained medical doctor, Samuel rediscovered his passion for art and started on a journey as a self-taught artist. His media include graphite, charcoal, carbon, and coloured pencils. His works focus on highlighting the intricate details of his subjects and representing the fine and interesting details that are often overlooked. With a background in medical anatomy, Samuel is curious about the human face, which drives his passion for portraiture. He is also interested in environmental themes around pollution and climate change, as seen through his series “Mort de la Mer”. He is further interested in African art, culture and iconography which has inspired a research-led art series, the “Akan series” which explores the philosophies of the Akan people from Ghana. He was awarded the British Art Prize in 2024 and the Hahnemuhle Fine Art UK Award by the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) in 2021 and was a finalist for the RBA Rome Scholarship. His works have been exhibited across the UK and have been shortlisted for several art prizes, including the CASS Art Prize 2024, the John Ruskin Prize 2025 and the Scottish Portrait Awards 2022. Samuel currently lives and works in Glasgow, Scotland.
"Citrus in Manibus" examines the intricate details of the commonplace that are often overlooked. The work celebrates the beauty and sophistication of the common, in this case, a pair of hands holding up a citrus. The symbolism of a pair of hands holding a citrus fruit reflects the relationship between man and plant life and suggests that through little ordinary actions, humankind holds the future of its environment and consequently its own future in its hands.