Andrew Giddens is one of Cornwalls leading Landscape Artists. He was born in 1976 in Poole, Dorset and moved to Cornwall in 1993. His interest in, and respect of the sea and coastline began at a young age. Encouraged by his father he grew up exploring the cliffs and surf around the Isle of Purbeck near his home, often sketching the surroundings he observed. Regular family holidays taken on the Cornish coast continued to strengthen his interest in the natural world whilst they also helped to develop a sense of awareness of the environment which was later to become his home.
After settling in Cornwall Andrew pursued his interest in Art and studied a foundation course at Falmouth College of Art. He then completed an H.N.D. in Illustration at ‘The Arts Institute at Bournemouth’ in 2000. It was here that the combination of intensive life drawing classes, and living away from the atlantic coast, caused him to start expressing with new energy, something of the glory of the sea. He then returned to West Cornwall where he now lives with his wife and two children, just yards from the sea, painting from his cliff top studio with unbroken views of the southern horizon.
Andrew Giddens works mainly in oils, embracing a range of techniques including glazing, impasto and direct painting. He says :
‘My subjects are often the light, atmosphere and beauty of places I know well, that I have visited many times. In all my paintings the aim is to convey some of this emotion to the viewer. I also work on projects usually based on a particular stretch of coast or a specific time of day and this ends with an exhibition.’
Andrew Giddens’ paintings are fresh, dynamic and exciting, resulting from a working method that is both constantly challenged and intensive. He is most well known for his dramatic seascapes of the Cornish coast , but he has painted further afield and hopes to continue doing so.
