As a student at the Central School of Art in London, Artist Andrew Crane studied graphic
design - it was then that he developed a love for the typographic and handwritten
elements that are prevalent in his abstract paintings today.
Much of his adult life was spent in the west country, where he swapped the rigours
of type for the freedom of brush and canvas. His recent work will often contain cement
and painting materials acquired at the hardware store.
He admits that turning up at a blank canvas can be a daunting process -
"Daunting, yes ...but also thrilling! Invariably, the starting point for me, contains no
preconception - The cement is applied - 'imperfections' appear and
vanish ...appear again some other place - A line occurs, a shape, a number, a
stray blob drips from the trowel ...gradually there is form in the mix."
Andrew now lives and works at the very top of England in the wild landscape of
Northumberland. His studio is a shed, and when the wind blows strong - which it does,
he says - you may find him up the ladder with another large rock to hold the roof down.
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