Andy Farr

Andy Farr became a full-time artist in 2010 after spending the first part of his career in marketing and advertising. A serious illness and a damascene moment on the commute to London lead him to embark in a new direction. He received the first of his three Arts Council Grants for a project in 2014/5 working with schools to develop art around the WW1 Centenary.

In 2015 Andy embarked on an MA in Painting. He used this as an opportunity to explore his memories of growing up and the impact of his father’s bipolar condition on his and his family’s life. As he looked back, it became clear that the strongest memories were of a feeling, rather than a precise, accurate recollection of place or situation. One these pieces was awarded a prize in the 2018 Ashurst Emerging Artist Awards.

Of his art, he says, “I am storyteller. I like the audience to wonder what may have happened, be happening or what might come to pass. Sometimes I start with the elements of the narrative clearly mapped out in my mind, on other occasions the story develops more organically.

My paintings often make use of imagery derived from photographs, and grounds that are created more dynamically and serendipitously. My principal medias are acrylic and oil, but I will incorporate other elements if they contribute to the storytelling.”

His current project is a series of narrative portraits. These are based on people who live in Coventry. This work is being funded by Orbit, a housing association, and many of the participants are residents in their independent living schemes. The work will be exhibited through events in Coventry Cathedral, amongst other venues, as part of Coventry’s City of Culture.

See more at https://www.andyfarr.com/