Andrew Holmes is a figurative painter based in London. After studying in Cornwall and gaining an Art and Design Degree in 1980, Andrew moved to London where he worked as a freelance illustrator, collaborating on commercial projects in advertising, design, TV and film, until 2008 when he returned to painting.
Andrew’s art practice is centred on figurative painting with an interest in contemporary painting, visual culture and aesthetic appreciation. In his portraits of generic young women he adopts an oblique portrayal of beauty and discreet sexuality to examine identity, gender, ethnicity and equality. Andrew is also known for his still life food paintings, which he describes as metaphors for temptation, desire, envy and guilt.
His bather paintings come from a visualisation and emotional experience or memory.
On the beach or riverbank, Andrew begins by making sketches and photographs and uses these as the source material to make preparatory working drawings and, in turn, the final studio paintings. Andrew’s fascination is with the process of painting. Working with oil paints on wood panel, linen or on Arches paper, his simple compositions are rendered with a blend of delicate brush work, layering and textural mark-making.
Andrew exhibits in group and solo shows and curated open exhibitions in London, the wider UK, the USA and international art fairs. His work is found in private and corporate collections.