ANDREW PRIOR “THE ARTIST’S PROFILE”
THE ARTIST’S PRACTICE
Andrew studied fine art sculpture & ancient history at university. Most of his work involves elements of ancient traditions, cultures & history. His work of art & creations are storytellers of the journey of life itself from the past to the present into the future.
Andrew is a master painter and he uses traditional refined detailed technics to paint and produce his art. Even
when he produces his contemporary and modern art collections, he still
introduces into his work the same traditional refined technic, which is
basically the base of all his paintings and artworks.
Andrew’s paintings & artwork are usually made with 3d elements creating an ornate textural surface. He
paints mostly with oil paint & a lot of the pigments he uses, will
have special properties such as being extremely reflective or luminous
or even change color depending on the angel the picture is viewed from.
Andrew
has not put any limitations to his artistic talents only towards his
subject of study & to his trained practice which are sculpture &
fine arts but he has surely expanded his artistic creativity, talent
& expertise into the world of fashion & style, fine &
costume jewelry, interiors, furniture & soft furnishing.
Because
of his background & involvement in fashion & jewelry, he uses
additional materials in his creations such as pearls, crystals, shells,
semi-precious stones, precious jams, beads, mother of pearl, shells,
parvashell, gold & silver leaf, jewelry findings, jewels, wooden
ornaments, plastic materials, embroidery & etc….
THE ARTIST’S BIO
After his diploma in fine arts from West Surrey College of Arts & Design he attended Central St Martin School of Art & Design for his degree in fine arts sculpture. In early 90’s he joint Berge Khachwaji as
Art Director. Where he experienced creating magnificent illustrations
& embroidery designs for influential individuals in the world,
including royal families, dignitaries & celebrities.
During
his career he has worked on many projects such as Butler & Wilson,
Electricity Privatization campaign, Absolutely Fabulous, opera &
show productions, auction houses, charities, interiors, renowned luxury
hotels & many joint exhibitions in the UK & U.S. & a major
significant much acclaimed solo exhibition called “LEGACY”of mummy portraits in the Petrie Museum, from which the portrait of “Antinous”, the notorious legendary ancient Roman god, which was featured in many articles worldwide. Moreover, Andrew’s creation of the “LEGACY” exhibition & especially concerning the famous portrait of “Antinous” is well documented in a book called “SEX, KNOWLEDGE & RECEPTIONS OF THE PAST” written & edited by KATE FISHER & REBECCA LANGLANDS & published by OXFORD in 2015.
He has currently, over 300 pieces of artworks on public display in the UK & also in private collections of some of the most important private collectors. One of the most prominent pieces on display is the painting of a “Madonna & Child” created in an Armenian style & theme for the candle-alter of St. Yeghiche church at Cranley Gardens in South Kensington, London.
THE ARTIST’S CHRONOLOGICAL CV
FEBRUARY 1970 Born in Weybridge Surrey.
SEPTEMBER 1986 Attended West Surrey College of Art & Design.
JULY 1987 Received diploma in fine arts from West Surrey College of Art & Design.
SEPTEMBER 1998 Moved to London & attended Central St Martins School of Art.
APRIL 1989 Joined Berge Khachwaji as Art Director.
1990 Created the window display for ‘Butler & Wilson’ for their flagship store in Fulham.
1991 Created the jewelry for the Electricity Privatization Adverts, TV & Billboards.
1991 Created jewelry for TV program ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ worn by Marianne Faithfull.
JULY 1991 Graduate Central St Martins School of Art with BA degree in Fine Arts Sculpture.
JULY 1992 Embroidery design for KSA HRH king Faisal Bin Abdel Aziz AL Saud’s Grandson’s bride
DECEMBER 1992 Embroidery design for the daughter of the ruler of Bahrain Sheikh Al Khalifa.
FEBRUARY 1993 Participated in-group show for the ‘Kiss’ exhibition at the ‘West Soho Galary’.
SEPTEMBER 1993 Created embroidery design for HRH Princess Zeina Talal Arslan wedding dress.
FEBRUARY 1994 Participated in a group show for the ‘Mask’ exhibition at the ‘West Soho Gallery’.
APRIL 1994 Styling Valerie Campbell for Bonham’s auction for the largest ‘Moghul emerald’.
SEPTEMBER 1994 The Royal Auping bed launch in London creating ‘Sleeping Beauty Dress’.
DECEMBER 1994 Created “Diamond” corset for the ‘Queen Elizabeth Trust’ sponsored by Swarovski crystals auctioned at Christies of London.
FEBRUARY 1995 Exhibited for the ‘kiss’ exhibition at the K Gallery by the ‘Regent Street Association’.
SEPTEMBER 1995 Created outfits for the opera ‘ Dido & Aneas’ at the Shaw theatre for ‘Shelter’.
JULY 1997 Decorated the old Library for the education department of the British Museum.
OCTOBER 2001 Art Director/PA for Berge Khachwaji show at the Kensington Palace.
DECEMBER 2002 Participated in an exhibition by dti in Dubai called the "UK Experience".
JUNE 2003 Created bejeweled table with chairs in the Phoenicia Hotel in Lebanon.
JUNE 2004 Created a corset embroidered in gold and precious gems for Safiya Naser Al Rashid.
MARCH 2007 Created a cushion embroidered in gold and precious gems and Tahitian pearls for Sir Elton John 60th Birthday for his marriage to David Furnish.
FEBRUARY 2009 Solo exhibition called ‘ LEGACY’ of mummy portraits in the ‘Petrie Museum’ London.
MARCH 2009 Commissioned to create a portrait for Bob & Tamar Manoukian daughter.
APRIL 2010 Created bejeweled table & chairs for the Intercontinental hotel in Saudi Arabia.
MARCH 2011 Created designs for Ernesto, Kirsty and Dona Bertarelli family.
MAY 2012 Created embroidery design for HM Queen Elizabeth’s II ‘Diamond Jubilee’ official portrait dress.
MAY 2013 Commissioned to create fashion illustration for Madonna.
FEBRUARY 2013 Gave a lecture called ‘EVERY GOOD THING’ at the ‘Petrie Museum’ London.
OCTOBER 2013 Participated in-group show called ‘Creative Rising’ in Time Square New York.
NOVEMBER 2013 Commissioned by Bob & Tamar Manoukian Foundation to create the Candle Alter painting of ‘Madonna & Child’ for St. Yeghishe Church at Cranley Gardens, SW7.
JULY 2014 Participated in-group show called ‘Art Takes Time Square’ in New York.
DECEMBER 2014 Participated in-group show called ‘Art Takes Miami’ in Florida.
OCTOBER 2015 Created rose embroidery design with 17, 000 handmade roses, crystals and fresh water pearls.
DECEMBER 2016 Commissioned for Oatland Park Hotel to create art works specifically created for the hotel inspired by its own history.
JULY 2017 Further 300 artworks were commissioned & created for the Oatland Park Hotel.
NOV/DEC 2019 Andrew’s artwork, “Madonna Of The Atocha”, was selected and chosen as one of the thirty artworks from the 420 artist applicant’s to go on display at “The Via Artz Prize 2019 Finalists’ exhibition” at the “Sala brasil Gallery” at the Embassy of Brazil in London.
