Andrew Parker

Andrew is a figurative painter working from life in oils. He approaches each workas a journey of exploration.
Whether the subject is portrayed energetically in as little as one sitting or layered over multiple sittings, his passion for life,
light, form and paint are evident throughout his work.

"I love work which has real depth, exploration and commitment including that of Frank Aurebach, Lucian Freud,
Francis Bacon, Alberto Giacometti and not forgetting the great Rembrandt".

Andrew had no exposure to the world of art in his early life but he just drew and drew. His passion for drawing
helped him through school, it was then when his art teacher sent him to Stockport College to a life drawing evening class.
This experience was so influential he decided there and then College was the place for him, no one in his family had been
to college so it hadn’t even crossed his mind that he would end up there. As the term was about to start it was too late
to apply through the normal channels but luckily his art teacher arranged an interview with the head of faculty,
he was impressed with Andrews work and gave him a place on a multi-disciplinary course.
After this course Andrew went on to specialise in graphic design and advertising. During this time he signed up
to the territorial army for some excitement and money. During his time at college he continued to pursue his love
of life drawing but when he left college all his efforts went into his career and running his own design and advertising agency.
Although there was an element of drawing in his career he had been distracted from the thing that set him on his path
in the first place. The only thing which gave him the same focus as drawing was driving a race car which he did successfully
for several years before re discovering art.
Twelve years on and carrying the stresses and scars of running a business he saw an add for a local life drawing class,
the following week he went down to take part, he recounts “I was shaking like a leaf I was so nervous” but for two hours
he thought about nothing and just drew “heaven”.
Andrew found some great friends at the class and hasn’t looked back, six years on he is now drawing and painting six
or even seven days a week in his studio on the fourth floor of Vernon Mill in Stockport. His paintings are in private collections
across the country and he has recently received a letter of encouragement by the National Portrait Gallery, London.

The most recent interview with Andrew can be found in Artist and Illustrator magazine December 2009, p82
Andrew undertakes portrait and other commissions; see examples of his work bellow.