Born in Guantanamo Province, Cuba in 1958 Raul left Havana to come to the UK in 1991 sponsored by the BBC following a documentary made by them on Cuba’s top young artists and writers.   He was at that time a founder member of the Rene Portacarrero screen printing studio in Havana which remains one of the best in South America to this day.  He trained at San Alejrandro and studied with well know Cuba artists like Thomas Sanchez. On arrival in London he exhibited alongside the YBAs and ran a gallery in Spittalfields Market until 1995 when he moved to Solva in Pembrokeshire opening Raul Speek Gallery with his wife photographer Heather Bennett.   He has exhibited widely throughout Europe and the UK and his works are held by collectors world wide.  To be considered an artist in Cuba he had to work in multi-media, sculpt and play music.  He still does all of this today and has added video making and documentary work to his skills one of his most recent featuring Gilbert and George close friends of his.  His teaching work has included schools across the UK, art groups and prisons.  He is committed to working within the community: during  Covid lockdowns he painted – with local children – murals on two Solva buildings one of which was featured on Weatherman Walking.  He has also featured in various TV travel programmes, Country File and a half hour one person documentary “ A Long Journey Home” by BBC Wales’ The Slate which followed his initial return to Cuba.