Andrew Jay's Album

Background
Born in Norwich, UK, Andrew Jay has been painting in oils since the age of 26. Before painting professionally, he sold a number of works privately and in 2004 he was commissioned by his employer (Institute of Food Research) to paint a series of portraits of past and present directors. In 2006 he gave up a career in chemistry to concentrate on art. Although largely self-taught, he has obtained some formal training at adult classes. His greatest source of learning comes from the great masters and contemporary portrait painters. Besides portraiture he has explored a number of other genres such as life study, still life and surrealism; he also occasionally practices by reproducing the work of other artists. He has never yet held a formal exhibition, but Andrew's works are held in collections as far afield as Sydney and La Reunion.
The central importance of people in our lives and the challenge of capturing not just physical likeness, but some aspect of the personality within, are what draw Andrew to portraiture.
There is an intensity to working with a live sitter that is essential to the process of capturing a painted portrait, which he finds unrivalled in other subjects or media. His technique draws on both traditional and postimpressionist methods, in ways which may create the illusion of reality vibrantly, without recourse to photographic imitation.
In today's world of professional specialisation, people are often puzzled by someone who turns their hand (and mind) to both science and art. Yet both involve observation, analysis, critical thinking, practical dexterity and, especially, creative thinking. What is unusual is artistic depiction of life by a scientifically trained mind, and this is an area for further exploration.