Andrew Bird British, b. 1969
"Though based in the Derbyshire Dales, I make frequent visits to Cornwall and take inspiration from its upland moors, rugged coastlines and busy harbours. In my work I try to capture an essence of a place or situation as well as trying to simplify the forms and colours of what I see: old mine workings slowly being reclaimed by the landscape; ancient field systems; the changing weather, and light."
‘I am interested in the relationships of colour and contrast, as well as the interplay of forms and gestural mark-making.
’I will often use a boat to view the landscape from the sea. This offers a very different viewpoint when looking back to the land, where the geometry of field patterns, the shape of the coast and its hidden forms are revealed along with the motion of the sea. My paintings are composites of many of these elements.
‘I work intuitively and usually with minimal sketching or planning. When I do sketch it is rarely as a means of reference for a painting – as I prefer the work take on a life of its own from memory, or developed instinctively. Elements within a painting are based on fleeting images, imagination and experiences, which perhaps aren't visually representative, if compared to a snapshot, but for me, encapsulate a particular slice of time.
‘A painting will go through many stages of being worked and re-worked, with layers being scratched and scraped back to reveal remnants of the earlier process, with elements added and removed until the composition and balance of colour, line and form is resolved.’
Andrew Bird, 2020
Born in Derby, Derbyshire in 1969, Andrew Bird studied Graphic Design at Chesterfield College of Technology & Art from 1986-88. He then went on to study Design Communication at Granville College, Sheffield University from 1988-90. From 1992-93 Andrew studied for a BA in Fine Art at Bradford College of Art.
Since 2011, he has exhibited successfully throughout the UK. His first solo show was held in 2013. In recent years he has been shown at the 20/21 British and International Art Fairs in London.
Andrew has worked as a Graphic Designer and Garden Designer since 1993, and as a full-time artist since 2010.
Andrew Bird lives in Derbyshire and has been represented in Cornwall exclusively by the Porthminster Gallery, since 2013.
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Selected Solo Exhibitions
2019 Porthminster Gallery, St Ives, Cornwall: 'Landscape Abstracted' 2018 Porthminster Gallery, St Ives, Cornwall: ‘Favoured Paths’
Selected Two Person Exhibitions Selected Group Exhibitions 2013 Russell Cotes Museum, Bournemouth: ‘Variations on Abstraction’ D'art Gallery, Dartmouth, Devon. Various shows Tarpey Gallery, Castle Donington: ‘Midlands Open’ The Arthouse Gallery, Bournemouth Selected Biography |
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SEA STORIES
Mixed exhibition of contemporary paintings, prints, and ceramics 1 May - 26 Jun 2021Porthminster Gallery’s new exhibition Sea Stories opened with a burst of Spring optimism on 1st May.Read more
Featuring uplifting contemporary paintings, prints and ceramics by seven gallery artists, and one invited guest artist, in a celebration of the seaside and rocky coast for which St Ives and West Cornwall is famous
craig underhill ceramics, anne barrell ceramics, sgraffito, earthenware, handmade, painted, alfred wallis, sailing boats, ships, trawlers, harbours, sea, coast, mike bernard mixed medai paintings, andrew bird abstract paintings, ian harrold paintings, jenny hirst paintings, martyn perryman paintings, trevor price prints and paintings, for sale, ceramicist, potter, slab-built, vessels, clay, painterly, exhibitions, shows, exhibiting, exhibited, landscape, semi-abstract, coastal -
RELOCATION
11 Sep - 24 Oct 2020The opening collection at our new premises at 22 Fore Street is a changing showcase of artworks by some of the many established and emerging British Artists whom we represent,...Read more -
COAST 2020
4 Jul - 5 Sep 2020A colourful and uplifting exhibition celebrating the unique beauty of the Cornish coast through the varied mediums and creative approaches of selected gallery artists: Andrew Bird, Sara Dudman RWA ,...Read more -
LANDSCAPE ABSTRACTED
30 Mar - 11 May 2019Porthminster Gallery hosts its second specially curated exhibition of 2019 with this selling show of collectable paintings and ceramics by four well-established artists. The ongoing engagement in each artist's work...Read more -
ANDREW BIRD 'FAVOURED PATHS'
SOLO SHOW 24 Mar - 21 Apr 2018The eagerly-awaited solo show of new abstract Cornish landscape-based paintings and assemblages by permanent gallery artist Andrew Bird. This Derbyshire based artist creates many-layered compositions in repsonse to his...Read more -
COAST 10: EIGHT ARTISTS AND THE SEA
13 May - 10 Jun 2017We are very excited to announce our tenth coastal-themed exhibition 'COAST 10', celebrating the wonderful Cornish coastline through the eyes of eight of your favourite established painters and ceramicists:Read more
