Alex Main was born in Edinburgh. He studied in London at Loughborough College of Art and Goldsmiths. 

The Scotsman’s art critic Duncan McMillan once described him as “possibly Scotland’s greatest living portrait sculptor”. However, for Main, the greatest recognition was having his works held by the National Collection. Julie Lawson, chief curator of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, said “Alex Main was a sculptor of great skill and originality. His remarkable portraits of George Mackay Brown and Norman McCaig are among the most important recent additions to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery."