The Telling Tales of Andrew Christopher

The Dance, pen and ink on paper, 30.5 x 47cm  (2011)

Andrew Christopher will be presenting his solo show ‘Telling Tales’ at Gallery150 from 5^th- 17^th July 2011.

Originally from Leeds, the artist, who studied at Jacob Kramer (Leeds College of Art) and London Guildhall University, currently lives and works in Stratford Upon Avon.

In Telling Tales, Andrew Christopher takes the viewer to an enchanted world of dancing animals, children, improbable Pied Pipers and butterflies.

Loaded with narrative, “They are all small parts of a much larger story, however, they are not scenes from a story that I have already written; they  are scenes from stories that are still yet to be told”, states the artist. But what initially seem to be apparently idyllic scenes, unfold into a disconcertingly dreamlike and eerie realm, hovering somewhere between ‘A Mid-Summer’s Night’s Dream’ and the most terrifying of nightmares. Indeed, in the artist’s paintings, what you imagine might just have happened, or what you think is about to happen is just as important as what is actually happening.

Bye Bye Blackbird, pen and ink on paper,  30.5x 40.5cm  (2011)

At the start of this year, Andrew Christopher began working in pen and ink on paper, as a result of having begun writing a graphic novel with a friend and fellow artist, which is due to be published later this year. This experimentation with a new medium has found its way into the artist’s current show, which will feature over twenty pictures, created over a four year period, bringing us right up to date with his very latest work. It is an exploration of how a creative mind works and as Andrew says: “I think the greatest challenge for any artist is to try to control their mind and stop it wandering like a lost dog.”

The artist will open his private view with a talk and discussion about his work.

Run and showcased by Leamington Studio Artists (LSA), Gallery150 is open Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 6pm and Sunday from 11am to 4pm.

The private view will be held on Tuesday 5th July from 7-9pm.

Gallery150, Regent Court Shopping Parade, 9 Livery Street, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 4NP. www.gallery150.co.uk