Andrew Berks was born in 1992, in England, to British and Canadian parents. He grew up between the UK and Canada. Two years studying Fine Art at Queen’s University, alongside third-party recognition of his early works, was enough to confirm his interest and abilities in oil painting. He has been a professional artist since 2012. Andrew currently lives and works amongst the rural farmland of Herefordshire, England.
Berks is concerned chiefly with the technical application of paint. Palette knives are used enthusiastically for much of each painting, chosen for their combined brutality and precision. He exploits oil paint’s versatility, starting with transparent layers and building up to more decisive, refined marks. Ideally, the level of clarity does not overshadow the boldness of the painting as the intention is to develop interest from two perspectives.
His work consistently features subjects of the bovine variety, for their calm, yet imposing presence and the way they lend themselves so well to his style of painting. In recent years, his growing passion for plein air painting and floral subjects have tied his work together while pushing its boundaries considerably.