ANDREW TORR

Andrew Torr is a British painter whose work delves into the emotional and psychological landscapes of urban and suburban Britain. His oil paintings, characterised by a balance between figuration and abstraction, capture the nuanced interplay of light, structure, and atmosphere in everyday environments.

Torr's practice encompasses several series that explore different facets of the British landscape. His 'Nocturnes' series presents London’s commons at dusk, where the interplay of natural and artificial light creates skyscapes full of drama. In his 'Thames' series, initiated during lockdown, Torr shifts focus to the river's expanse, using elevated horizons to transform water into a central, almost abstract, element. More recently, his 'Estates' series brings attention to the often-overlooked architecture of UK council estates, portraying them with a sense of dignity and quiet presence.

Throughout his work, Torr employs a restrained yet luminous palette, allowing formal elements to assert themselves while evoking a sense of familiarity and introspection. His compositions often omit human figures, yet traces of life - lit windows, worn paths, subtle signs of habitation - imbue the scenes with a lived-in quality.

Torr recently won the Jackson’s Art Prize, 2024, for his painting 'Estate'. His work has been exhibited in notable venues such as the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition (2024), the New English Art Club Annual Exhibition (2022–2024), and solo exhibitions such as 'Nocturnes' at Liminal Gallery, in collaboration with the AOP Gallery, in Margate (2023).

Born in Yorkshire in 1965, Torr moved to London in 1983 to study painting under Bernard Cohen at Wimbledon School of Art. Since completing his degree in 1987, he has lived and worked in London, continually drawing inspiration from the city's evolving landscapes.