Biography

I was born in 1957 in Stoke-on-Trent to Enid and Harold Bradley. I spent my formative years being raised at the Penkhull Children’s Home and was educated at the local comprehensive St. Peters C of E, where people who thought I had potential encouraged and pointed me in the right direction; Sixth Form College, Foundation Art at the Burslem School of Art, and Stoke-on-Trent Polytechnic where I specialised in Sculpture, leaving in 1980 with BA (Hons).

Since then I have continued to make my work whilst performing a range of tasks that facilitated raising a family and paying a mortgage.

I draw most days, my sketchbooks are an important and fundamental part of my practice. Through drawing  ideas emerge and evolve, many notions recurring, until through drawing, and time, they materialise as a 3 or 2 dimensional work.

I work on a range of ideas and themes at the same time. To realise these ideas and themes I fabricate my work using a range of materials and readymade objects that I adapt and repurposed to suit my needs through this I create my  objects/artworks.

An ‘off the cuff’ remark, a story, something in the paper or the media or a colloquialism can spark an idea; I juxtapose these influences with my view of the world to make my art.

Sometimes I draw or make an object, and had no idea where it came from, or indeed its context. It is only later when I have had time to reflect and consider, that I understand the link and relevance to my life and work.

I have been described as ‘conceptual’ and an ‘outsider’. I am not comfortable with the narrow definitions of art practice, I do not have a single narrative and I do not believe that my work easily falls into established, convenient categories. Essentially I follow my own path.

Andrew Blake Bradley, 2019

CV

1969 – 74 St. Peter’s C of E High School. Stoke-on-Trent.

1974 – 76 Stoke on-Trent Sixth Form College

1976 – 77 North Staffordshire Polytechnic. Art Foundation.

1977 – 80 North Staffordshire Polytechnic. BA (Hons) Fine Art Sculpture

Exhibitions

1980
The First Picture Show. The Sainsbury Centre. University of East Anglia. October 21st – November 16th.
1987
Solo Exhibition. E.M. Flint Art Gallery, Walsall. March 21st – April 11th. Curated by Ms. Jo Digger.
Solo Exhibition. Lichfield Arts Centre. June 8th- June 28th
1988
‘Thanks for all the Fish’ National Open Exhibition. South Hill Arts Centre Bracknell.
1990
‘Cars Love ‘em, Hate ‘em’. National Open Exhibition. Contact Gallery, Norwich. October 10th – November 3rd.
Walsall Society of Artists 41st Annual Show. E.M. Flint Gallery, Walsall. November 7th – December 7th.
1991
Walsall Society of Artists 42nd Annual Show. E.M. Flint Gallery, Walsall. November 14th – December 14th .
1992
Walsall Society of Artists 43rd Annual Show.  E.M. Flint Gallery, Walsall. October 31st - November 28th
1992-93
Walsall Open Art Exhibition. The Garage Arts and Media Centre, Walsall.
1994
Walsall Society of Artists 45th Annual Show. E.M. Flint Gallery, Walsall. October – November.
1996
Walsall Peoples Festival. July 6th. Walsall Society of Artists Marquee.
Walsall Society of Artist 47th Annual Show. E.M. Flint Gallery, Walsall. November 8th – December 1st.
1996-97
Solo Exhibition. Pfizer UK Head Office, Sandwich Kent. November 1st – February 7th.
1997
Solo Exhibition, May 24th – June 28th. The Tace Gallery, Tamworth, Staffordshire
11th Open Art and Craft Exhibition.September 13th- December 14th Stoke-on-Trent Museum and Art Gallery.
2011
Art Exhibition # 1. The White Lion, Caldmore, Walsall.
Garden Open Air Exhibition to launch new garden area in Walsall Arboretum.
2012
Art Exhibition # 2. The White Lion, Caldmore, Walsall. March 10th to 28th.
2013
Walsall Society of Artists 64th Annual Show. New Art Gallery, Walsall.  December 6th to January 12th.
2014
Walsall Society of Artists Summer Exhibition. The Lichfield Library, The Friary Lichfield. May 15th to May 29th.
Walsall Society of Artists 65th Annual Show. New Art Gallery, Walsall. October 24th to November 30th.
2016
Direct Act Action Gallery – Walsall. July onwards
Walsall Society of Artists 67th Annual Show New Art Gallery, Walsall.  December 2nd to January 22nd.
2017
Direct Act Action Gallery – Sutton Coldfield
close

Employment

1981-83
Community Artist. The Glebe Centre, Walsall Association, Walsall.
1983
Visiting Lecturer Community Arts. Walsall College of Art.
Artist in Education Book binding and paper aeroplanes. Clothier Street Junior School. Walsall.
1983-85
Community Artist / Community Arts Workshop Manager. Palfrey Community
1984-85
Walsall Arts Council. Hon Treasurer.
1985
Artist in Education.Sculpture Workshops. Noose Lane J.M.I. Willenhall. Walsall.
1986
Assistant Community Director. Darlaston Community Association.
Assistant Community Director. Fordbrook Community Association.
Community Director, Forest Community Association
1992-93
Chairman Walsall Arts Council. Walsall Metropolitan Council.
From June 1986 until January 7th 2011 worked for Walsall Council working on a wide range of creative communications projects.
2001
Head of Communications. Walsall New Deal for Communities.
2001-11
Established and curated the Atrium Gallery at the Blakenall Village Centre, Walsall.  A gallery showing work by local artists, it is now run by members from the Walsall Society of Artists.
Established and ran the Blakenall Village Centre Craft Fairs.
close

Community Art

1981
8 Murals depicting the decline of industry in the West Midlands. Commissioned by Bruce George MP.
1982
‘Beach scene’ Mural 66’ x 7’ Goscote Lodge Crescent. Commissioned by Walsall Council Housing Department, Goscote Lodge Neighbourhood Office.
Alice in Wonderland Stage Sets. Allens Rough Primary School, New Invention, Walsall. Directed by Mick Hennigan.
Image of Walsall. Mural 16’ x 4’ Oil on board. M.S.C. Youth Training Scheme. The Glebe Centre, Walsall.
1982-83
‘Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil’Mural 6m x 6m. The International Youth Club, Glebe Centre, Walsall. Commission the Glebe Centre.
1983
Tales of Mystery and Imagination. Stage sets. Written and directed by David Calcutt. Forest Youth Theatre, Walsall.
Beowulf. Costume and Stage sets. Written and directed by David Calcutt. Easter Arts Project Forest Community Association.
1983-84
Four musicians Mural 15’ x 12’. Commission Palfrey Community Association.
1984
Barnabus the Banana Bus. Playbus designed and painted for The Crypt, Wolverhampton Youth Training Scheme.
1985
Artist in Education. Weather Mural ’80 x 8’. Palfrey Community J.M.I. School.
1987
‘Arts Attack’ Sculptor in Residence. Shelfied Community School. Walsall Education Department. May 27th- 30th.
1987-88
Timothy Tiger Tooth Mobile. Mobile Dental Health Surgery. Workshops in Walsall Schools and implementation. Commissioned by Walsall Area Health Authority.
1988
Artist in Residence. ‘Identity’ Mural and workshops project. Delves Youth Centre, Walsall. March 28th – April 25th. Walsall Community Education Service.
The Artists View Exhibition E.M. Flint Gallery Walsall. Exhibited: Image of Walsall Glebe Centre mural 1982. April 15th – May 21st. Curated by Ms. Jo Digger.
1989
‘Where we live’ mural 7.1 x 1.3m and workshops with parents and children. Green Close J.M.I.
1993-94
Building home studio.
Walsall Operatic Society – Little Shop of Horror.
Lichfield Civic Hall. Lichfield. Photographer Show Stills.
1995
‘Arohan’ South Asian Arts Project in Birmingham and Walsall Schools. Photography and brochure design.
Walsall Operatic Society – My Fair Lady, Lichfield Civic Hall. Lichfield. Photographer Show Stills.
1996
Help the Aged Auction. March 9th. 2 works donated
1989
‘Where we live’ mural 7.1 x 1.3m and workshops with parents and children. Green Close J.M.I.
St. Augustine Workshops and Mural 4’ x 11’ St. Augustine of England Roman Catholic School. Handsworth. Birmingham. June 26th completed in the September 1996.
close

Exhibitions

1980 

The First Picture Show.

The Sainsbury Centre. 

University of East Anglia. 

October 21st – November 16th. 

1987 

Solo Exhibition.  

E.M. Flint Art Gallery, 

Walsall. March 21st – April 11th. 

Curated by Ms. Jo Digger.

Solo Exhibition.

Lichfield Arts Centre.

June 8th- June 28th 

1988 

‘Thanks for all the Fish’

National Open Exhibition. 

South Hill Arts Centre 

Bracknell.

1990

‘Cars Love ‘em, Hate ‘em’. 

National Open Exhibition.

Contact Gallery, Norwich.

October 10th – November 

3rd.

 

Walsall Society of Artists 

41st Annual Show. 

E.M. Flint Gallery, Walsall.

November 7th – December 

7th.

1991 

Walsall Society of Artists 

42nd Annual Show.

E.M. Flint Gallery, Walsall.

November 14th – December 

14th .

1992 

Walsall Society of Artists 

43rd Annual Show. 

E.M. Flint Gallery, Walsall.

October 31st - November 

28th 

1992 / 93 

Walsall Open Art Exhibition. 

The Garage Arts and Media 

Centre, Walsall. 

1994 

Walsall Society of Artists 

45th Annual Show. 

E.M. Flint Gallery, Walsall.

October – November. 

1996 

Walsall Peoples Festival. 

July 6th.  

Walsall Society of Artists 

Marquee.

 

Walsall Society of Artist 

47th Annual Show. 

E.M. Flint Gallery, Walsall.

November 8th – December 

1st.

1996 / 97 

Solo Exhibition. 

Pfizer UK Head Office, 

Sandwich Kent.

November 1st – February 7th 

1997 

Solo Exhibition, 

The Tace Gallery, 

Tamworth, 

Staffordshire

May 24th – June 28th.

 

11th Open Art and Craft 

Exhibition. 

Stoke-on-Trent Museum 

and Art Gallery.

September 13th- December 

14th 

2011

Art Exhibition # 1. 

The White Lion, Caldmore,

 

Walsall.Garden Open Air 

Exhibition

Launch of new garden area 

in Walsall Arboretum. 

2012

Art Exhibition # 2. 

The White Lion, Caldmore, 

Walsall.

March 10th to 28th. 

2013

Walsall Society of Artists 

64th Annual Show. 

New Art Gallery, Walsall.  

December 6th to January 

12th.

2014

Walsall Society of Artists 

Summer 

Exhibition.

The Lichfield Library, The 

Friary 

Lichfield.

May 15th to May 29th.

 

Walsall Society of Artists 

65th Annual Show. 

New Art Gallery, Walsall.

October 24th to November 

30th.

2016 

Direct Act Action Gallery – 

Walsall. 

July onwards

 

Walsall Society of Artists 

67th Annual Show New Art 

Gallery, Walsall. 

December 2nd to January 

22nd.

2017 

Direct Act Action Gallery

Sutton Coldfield

Community Art

1981

8 Murals depicting the

decline of industry in the West

Midlands. Commissioned by Bruce

George MP.

 

1982   

‘Beach scene’ Mural 66’ x 7’

Goscote Lodge Crescent.

Commissioned by Walsall

Council Housing Department,

Goscote Lodge Neighbourhood

Office.

 

Alice in Wonderland Stage Sets.

Allens Rough Primary School,

New Invention, Walsall.

Directed by Mick Hennigan.

 

Image of Walsall. 

Mural 16’ x 4’ Oil on board.

M.S.C. Youth Training Scheme.

The Glebe Centre, 

Walsall.

 

1982 – 83  

‘Hear no evil, see no evil,

speak no evil’ Mural 6m x 6m.

The International Youth Club, 

Glebe Centre, Walsall.

Commission the Glebe Centre.

 

1983  

Tales of Mystery and Imagination. 

Stage sets. Written and directed by 

David Calcutt.

Forest Youth Theatre, Walsall.

 

Beowulf Costume and Stage sets.

Written and directed by David 

Calcutt. Easter Arts Project Forest 

Community Association.

 

1983 – 84  

Four musicians. Mural 15’ x 12’.

Commission Palfrey Community 

Association.

 

1984  

Barnabus the Banana Bus. 

Playbus designed and painted for 

The Crypt Wolverhampton Youth 

Training Scheme.

 

1985 

Artist in Education. Weather

Mural ’80 x 8’. Palfrey Community 

J.M.I. School.

 

1987  

‘Arts Attack’ Sculptor in Residence.

Shelfield Community School.

Walsall Education Department.

May 27th- 30th.

 

1987 – 88  

Timothy Tiger Tooth Mobile. 

Mobile Dental Health Surgery.

Workshops in Walsall Schools and 

implementation.

Commissioned by Walsall Area 

Health Authority.

 

1988  

Artist in Residence. 

‘Identity’ Mural and workshops 

project. Delves Youth Centre, 

Walsall. March 28th – April 25th. 

Walsall Community

Education Service.

 

The Artists View Exhibition 

E.M. Flint Gallery Walsall.

Exhibited: Image of Walsall Glebe 

Centre mural 1982.

April 15th – May 21st.

Curated by Ms. Jo Digger.

 

1989  

‘Where we live’. Mural 7.1 x 1.3m 

and workshops with parents and 

children. Green Close J.M.I.

 

1993 / 94 

Building home studio.

Walsall Operatic Society - Little 

Shop of Horror. 

Lichfield Civic Hall.

Photographer Show Stills.

 

1995  

‘Arohan’ South Asian Arts 

Project in Birmingham

and Walsall 

Schools. Photography and 

brochure design.

 

Walsall Operatic Society - My Fair 

Lady, Lichfield Civic Hall. Lichfield.

Photographer Show Stills.

 

1996  

Help the Aged Auction.

March 9th. 2 works donated

 

St. Augustine Workshops and 

Mural 4’ x 11’ St.

Augustine of England Roman 

Catholic School. Handsworth. 

Birmingham. June 26th completed 

in the September 1996.

Employment

1981 – 83 

Community Artist.

The Glebe Centre, Walsall 

Association, Walsall.

 

1983

Visiting Lecturer Community Arts.

Walsall College of Art.

 

Artist in Education Book binding 

and paper aeroplanes.

Clothier Street Junior School. 

Walsall.

 

1983 – 1985 

Community Artist / Community Arts 

Workshop Manager.

Palfrey Community

 

1984 – 85 

Walsall Arts Council.

Hon Treasurer.

 

1985 

Artist in Education.Sculpture 

Workshops.

Noose Lane J.M.I. Willenhall. 

Walsall.

 

1986 

Assistant Community Director. 

Darlaston Community Association.

 

Assistant Community Director. 

Fordbrook Community Association.

 

Community Director, Forest 

Community Association

 

1992/93 

Chairman Walsall Arts Council. 

Walsall Metropolitan Council.

 

From June 1986 until January 

7th 2011 worked for Walsall 

Council working on a wide range of 

creative communications projects.

 

2001 

Head of Communications. Walsall 

New Deal for Communities.

 

2001 – 2011

Established and curated the Atrium 

Gallery at the Blakenall Village 

Centre, Walsall.  A gallery showing 

work by local artists, it is now run

by members from the Walsall 

Society of Artists.

Established and ran the Blakenall 

Vllage Centre Craft Fairs.

Contact

Thank you for your message, I'll be in touch shortly!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
© Andrew Blake Bradley 2019
Privacy & Cookie Policy