Ellie Andrews West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Portraiture, & Figurative Art.
My practice centres around the figurative. I use charcoal, pastel, and oil paint and always from life in a sitting with a life model, my child / other children or a sitter.
My portraits capture likeness and character using loose and expressive marks. The 'working drawing' underneath is often left visible, alongside marks where I have tested colours and marks. I work fast, always from a single life sitting and respectful and true to the time allocated for the sitting. There is an experimental aspect to these sessions as I prefer to choose colours and composition at the beginning of the sessions after spending a bit of time with the sitter. There is no predetermined plan.
If I am working with children the experimental aspect becomes riskier and exciting because the sitting is so much shorter time-wise and I invite them to collaborate on the portrait with me, once I have the basic likeness and structure drawn. The result is unknown, but we always reach a sweet spot where adult self conscious mark making meets with a childs unboundless creativity, often with unique and exciting results.
My other figurative works start with drawings from life which are then introduced into a new narrative with colour, composition and mark making. These works are about capturing experiences in my life such as motherhood, and reworking them visually to express the emotional complexities of that particular moment, which at the time were difficult to verbalise.
I also run tutored and untutored life drawing and portraiture sessions from my studio in Burley, as Leeds Drawing Club (est. 2007) I also teach freelance at various arts venues, schools and universities around Leeds.
Artwork
Mouse Ears, Charcoal and Pastel on Paper, 2025
Maya, Charcoal and pastel on paper, 2025
Minnie, Charcoal and pastel on paper, 2025
Sadie, Charcoal and pastel on paper, 2025
Mirielle, Charcoal and Pastel on Paper, 2025
Em Brulee No Cabaret, Charcoal and pastel on Paper, 2025
Mister Sweezy, Charcoal and Pastel, 2023
Self Portrait, Charcoal and Conte Pencil, 2023
Projects and exhibitions
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Love Letters03/06/2026 — ongoing Love Letters is a series of drawings shaped by longing, devotion, sacrifice and the desire for connection. Referencing life with my daughter as the subject for the majority of these works, alongside other children and friends, Love Letters documents snapshots of domestic life and informal studio sessions capturing moments where we have all... [Read more] |
Lidgett Lane Larder, Leeds | Details |
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The Open03/06/2026 — ongoing The Open is a curated group exhibition presenting contemporary work in Leeds. The programme focuses on accessible, artist led exhibition making and supporting artists to show work to new and engaged audiences. |
Mill Gallery, Leeds | Details |
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Leeds Summer Group Show (2026)01/05/2026 — 30/05/2026 Leeds Summer Group show is an annual group exhibition showcasing Leeds' local artists, all working within a variety of media for wall hanging visual art. |
Leeds Playhouse, Leeds | Details |
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Ones to Watch 202501/03/2025 — 27/04/2025 Two of my works were selected for Sunnybank Mills annual Ones to Watch exhibition. I exhibited 'Gwyneth' a large scale charcoal portrait and 'Podcast' a smaller charcoal working drawing. Both are from my (M)OTHER exhibition. |
Sunnybank Mills, Leeds | Details |
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(M)OTHER17/10/2024 — 31/10/2025 (M)OTHER Exhibition is a series of large scale charcoal portraits and working drawings of 4 Mothers, plus myself, that explore the difficult thoughts and challenging emotions that accompany becoming a mother. A project completed after a Summer of conversations, observations and sittings. Each Mother was at a different place in their... [Read more] |
Leeds Drawing Club, Leeds | Details |