I have given art and literature themed talks at many important venues including Compton Verney, Oxford University, The Shakespeare Institute, the British Shakespeare Association Conference 2012, Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institute and The Wallace Collection. During residencies in 2012-2013 and 2015-2016 I delivered a number of talks at Durham University, and presented other events involving poetry, music, conversation and discussion. Between 2012 and 2019 I also specialized in  delivering lectures on cruise ships and travelled throughout Europe, the Caribbean, South America and beyond. In 2020-21, during the pandemic, I turned attention to giving online talks for the renowned US adult education organisation Road Scholar, addressing audiences across America. I speak without notes and my mission is to provoke thought, inspire and entertain. I also give performance poetry readings and compere public events.

My specialist lecturing topics include Art from 1850 onwards, the lives of great modern artists and poets, particularly Egon Schiele, Edvard Munch, Picasso, Matisse, Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, the influence of Shakespeare and classical mythology on Art and topics from the History of Science and Philosophy.

"Alan is the most enthusiastic lecturer I know. He is a sensation." Richard Sykes, Senior Cruise Director, Voyages to Antiquity

"On the second of the 'Sea days' I attended and enjoyed the lecture 'Myth into Art' by the brilliant, idiosyncratic and entertaining artist/guest-speaker Alan O'Cain." John Wilkes, cruise.co.uk reviews 2015

My mantra is that every person on the planet has the capacity to be creative. The missing ingredient is often simply self-belief. For several years I have been delivering workshops in art, poetry, book-making and photography, usually accompanied my wife Juliet. I am a qualified teacher with an MA in Education and Juliet and I are both Education Associates of the Saatchi Gallery, London. We have delivered workshops in many diverse and interesting locations, with participants ranging from age three to ninety-three.