Alyosha seemed for a long time to be unable to draw. The problem wasn’t an innate lack of ability but a condition similar to indecision that afflicts nearly all autistic people. It’s name is perseverance and it can be overcome by the right kind of encouragement.

Sometimes pre-drawn figures were offered to him and at other times he used a tracing table, which is illuminated from underneath. His control of media slowly increased and Alyosha is now able to draw from the object.

An important way of supporting his success is exhibiting his work in an extemporised ‘gallery’ in London, where his art is hung on an easel, which acts as the wall of a gallery where the work can be seen and admired.