|
|
|
Andy Beck- Biography
Those who visit this page hoping to find a large C.V. of exhibitions, training and teachings will be disappointed! Andy isn't like that. Apart from one of his O levels being in art, Andy has had no further formal art training. He lived and was educated in Northern Ireland. "I recall summer holidays spent cycling on my own around the North Antrim coast and stopping frequently to paint and sketch the castles, cliffs and scenery of that beautiful area." On leaving school Andy joined the Royal Air Force and served in the RAF Regiment until 1988. On leaving the forces Andy and his wife moved to North Yorkshire, painting was to be his income from that time, supplying galleries countrywide with his wildlife and country scenes. "The opening of Newgate Gallery in Barnard Castle in 1992 gave me the opportunity to exhibit my work locally in a quality gallery. Since that time nearly all my work has been exhibited and sold through that outlet. Only once has Andy taken up the challenge of submitting work to a major exhibition or show, the Society of Wildlife Artists at the Mall Galleries in London where his selected work was exhibited alongside many of the country's top artists in the genre. Being self-taught means that Andy has his own style, realism without photo-realism. "The work of several artists give me much inspiration, Archibald Thorburn the Victorian/ Edwardian bird artist, Robert Bateman the contemporary "environmental" wildlife artist, David Curtis whose landscapes really capture mood and light and Roger MacPhail, Britain's leading wildlife and sporting artist. These and other artists all have something which helps me to try and achieve more and improve my work." Due to his full-time painting commitments Andy does not teach or give talks on painting, he also undertakes a limited amount of commission work throughout the year. Painting techniques Considering the variety of Andy's work there is one thing in common with them all - his love of the outdoors, especially the British countryside. From the landscapes of the Scottish high mountains to the studies of the laneside hedgerows all have been observed first hand by Andy " I tend to paint only what I have studied in the field which I hope gives a sense of authenticity to my work. This means for example that the painting of ptarmigan on a Scottish hill has identifiable references and I can connect with the painting and hopefully pass that on to the observer." When ever possible Andy produces simple field sketches with watercolour notes, these are supplemented by photographs which help in the studio to provide extra details. Between the initial sketch and the finished final painting Andy tests out the colour, composition and lighting of an idea by completing a mid-stage sketch, these are the "sketches" that are for sale here on the website of at the gallery. Andy works in both oils and watercolours "certain subjects require the strength of colour and texture that can be achieved with oils whereas watercolours are more suited to the more delicate work." Which ever medium, Andy tries to be fairly traditional in his approach using very little body colour in his watercolours letting the paper provide the highlights. "My main aim is to paint a picture that is better than the last."
|
