MFPA Student Artist

Born: 1963
Lives in: London
Painting style: Mouth painter
Subjects: Eastern inspired decorative designs

As the result of a motorbike accident in Switzerland in 1983 Andy Baker lost one arm and suffered complete paralysis in the other arm. He had always been artistic but, with an older brother and sister who were both successful artists, the fear of failure had prevented Andy from following their lead and going to art college. He was working part-time in antique restoration at the time of his accident but after leaving hospital decided to try painting by mouth.

Andy was surprised by his early efforts which encouraged him to paint more. He says that art is all about courage, which drives you forwards to improve. When he felt more confident he continued to travel and has spent time living in Bali, the influence of Indonesian design and subject matter being evident in Andy's work.

He was advised that because of the naive and stylised nature of his work he would be inhibited by formal training and so he prefers to develop his own style, quoting Dali who said that art is all about 'technique, technique, technique.'

In 1998 Andy was accepted as a Student Artist with the Mouth & Foot Painting Artists after submitting some of his paintings for consideration to the independent panel of judges who monitor artists progress within the Association. Andy feels that creation comes from the unknown and art is about embracing that unknown force.