Demetrij Achkasov was born in Kiev, Ukraine in 1966. From childhood he was surrounded by an ambiance of art at its highest level. Demetrij's father was a famous Ukrainian pianist and his mother, an internationally respected restorer of oil paintings. Both created for him a refined cultural atmosphere which would go on to become the hallmark of his own artistic creations.

Demetrij began his career in painting at the age of 13 when he enrolled at the Art Studio in the Kiev Pioneer Palace. In 1983, he was accepted into the Architectural Department of Kiev State University where he graduated cum laude with a Masters Degree in 1989.

While in the University Demetrij's paintings were regularly entered in international exhibits where he often won top awards and honors. One of Demetrij's crowning achievements was his national USSR 1st Place Award in the annual Architectural Master's Paper Competition. Demetrij graduated with a Doctorate in Architecture in 1993, and is presently a Professor of Watercolor Painting at the University of Kiev.

Demetrij continues to extend his mastery in the elusive and demanding technique of watercolor artistry while arranging numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout Europe.

Over the last 5 years, Demetrij has had exhibitions in Vienna, Prague, Berlin, Athens, New York City, and Kiev. These shows have contributed to his international reputation and critical acclaim.

Demetrij's Style bears a deeply individual imprint of dramatic beauty while still paying homage to the best traditions of the Russian school of watercolor painting, a discipline which evokes a special romantic and emotional vision of reality.

Demetrij Achkasov has often been described as not only a keen historian, and an accomplished artist but a lyrical poet of the harsh yet charming Russian countryside.