Seals of Approval Print

Born in Glasgow in 1962, early passions for cars and drawing were combined when Andrew became an automotive designer, learning the disciplines at Coventry Polytechnic and the Royal College of Art. Beginning his career with Volkswagen in 1986 where he was involved in various exterior and interior design projects, he later joined the teaching staff of Art Center Europe, the Swiss annex of the famous Pasadena school to give design and drawing classes. During this time, he developed his impressionistic, dynamic painting, breaking away from a previous tighter, illustrative style. Volumes or details are now indicated with natural spontaneity, avoiding overworked lifelessness. Relatively large canvases are coated with acrylic paint in a celebration of vibrant colour capturing motion and emotion. Experiments include mixed media bas-reliefs, a “two-and-a-half” dimensional marriage of painting and sculpture. Historical subjects have always figured strongly, especially 1930s Grand Prix cars and 1950s endurance racers with their functional but evocative forms. Paintings are completed for pleasure and as private and commercial commissions. Assignments included a series of paintings for Bentley Motors and posters for the Villa d’Este, the 2006 Klausen Memorial,Red Bull and the GP Suisse 2009. Freelance design work activities run in parallel with his artwork. Design projects span the fields of transportation, product and packaging, networking with colleagues, depending on the scope of the project, to complete digital and solid modelling requirements. Commercial illustration projects are also undertaken. The studio is located in the Swiss countryside with inspiring surrounding views about 15 minutes north of the Vevey/Montreux region. Andrew recently wrote and illustrated a children’s book with an aviation theme, a spoof on the story of Louis Blériot’s crossing of the English Channel in 1909, with a badger as the main character entitled The Flight of Louis Blaireau. Andrew speaks French and German as well as his native English.