Artist of the Month 2022

For March I’ve chosen an artist who works in a medium I just don’t get on with at all – oils. Not only that but he’s dedicated enough to bear all weathers to paint Plein air in one of my favourite parts of the country – Cornwall.

Andrew Barrowman

Andrew Barrowman is a painter of landscapes and seascapes based in Cornwall. He paints predominantly in oils en plein air and from his studio at Krowji, Redruth. He spends many hours walking and observing the varied Cornish landscape and coastline as the light changes throughout the day and time of year.

In 2021 he won The Bowyer Drawing Prize at The New English Art Club annual exhibition and a Highly Commended Award at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists summer exhibition.

Sketchbooks are his constant companion, usually whilst walking his dog. On paper he records his observations daily, using oil sticks, charcoal and water based media. Trying to capture the feel and atmosphere of a place in all weathers is Andrew’s goal, rather than a photographic representation.
It is from outdoor sketches and plein air oil studies that his paintings begin to emerge in the studio. Winter light is a particular favourite of Andrew’s – often leading to frozen fingers and toes after a day painting and sketching in the cold damp Cornish mizzle!

Andrew illustrated books and worked in an advertising studio before concentrating on his painting. He sells through several galleries in the UK and has paintings in collections worldwide. Andrew has recently exhibited with the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, South West Academy of Fine and Applied Arts, New English Art Club and The Pastel Society in Mall Galleries London.

He teaches oil painting with St Ives School of Painting, Truro Arts adult Workshop programme as well as running small group sessions at his studio in Redruth.

In 2021 he also published his first book featuring 120 oil studies painting the view from his studio window at Krowji Redruth, as it changed over the course of a year.

You can contact Andrew on Twitter @barrowmanartist or via his website https://andrewbarrowman.com/portfolio/