Andy Ash is an artist who builds bridges—between disciplines, between people, and between the seen and the sensed—through a practice that spans sculpture, film, drawing, photography, print, and installation.
With a career rooted in both studio practice and pedagogy, Andy’s work explores the rich intersections between art, education, and scientific inquiry.
Born in Bulkington, North Warwickshire, Andy studied Fine Art at Nottingham Trent University before completing his PGCE in Secondary Art & Design at Reading University, and an MA in Art & Design Education at the Institute of Education, University of London. Over the past 25 years, he has held academic roles across four Russell Group universities, shaping generations of emerging artists and educators with a focus on contemporary art, galleries, museums, and visual art practice as research.
Andy’s work is defined by two interwoven strands: a deep commitment to visual art practice as a form of research, and a transdisciplinary, collaborative, and dialogic approach to making and teaching. His projects often engage with complex subjects—ranging from the architecture of memory and perception to the poetics of (dis)location—inviting viewers into layered spaces of inquiry and reflection.
A key aspect of his recent work involves collaboration with neuroscientists, using art as a tool to examine topics such as depression, dyslexia, and the workings of the brain. This transdisciplinary inquiry positions Andy at the forefront of conversations around the role of art in understanding mental health and neurodiversity.
Throughout his career, Andy has worked alongside cultural institutions such as Tate Exchange, Tate Britain, ICA, Kings College Art Centre at Cambridge University, Casa da Imagem, and the Freelands Foundation. These collaborations have informed a practice that is both critically engaged and socially responsive.
Now based in Portslade, Andy is a member of the Red Herring artist studio co-operative, where he continues to develop his multifaceted practice. Through a blend of making, mentoring, and research, Andy invites us to reconsider the boundaries of artistic disciplines and the possibilities of learning through art.
Life sized cold cast clear resin & aluminium - 2015
Monitor Gallery, UCL - 2020
Monitor Gallery, UCL - 2018
NIE Gallery, Singapore - 2023
Highlights
Solo Exhibitions
2025 ‘Caution Artist Working’ – Monitor Gallery, UCL, London
2022 ‘#Isolationartviews’ – T+ Gallery, University of Tsukuba Gallery, Japan
2021 ‘Recent Films: Hands Catching Perceptions’ – T+ Gallery, University of Tsukuba Gallery, Japan
2020 ‘The Art of Walking #2’ – T+ Gallery, University of Tsukuba Gallery, Japan
2020 ‘The Art of Walking #1’ – Monitor Gallery, UCL, London2018 ‘Hole in your soul’ – Monitor Gallery, UCL, London
2018 ‘Talking Brains’ – Kings College Gallery, Cambridge University
1994 ‘Thinking of you’ – Axiam Gallery, Reading
1994 Artist in Residence – Maiden Earley School, Reading
1993 ‘Art in Focus’ – Kings Arcade, Reading
1993 ‘Anything you can do…’ – Henley College Gallery
1987 Artist in Residence at Redhill Comprehensive School – Arnold, Notts
Group Exhibitions
2025 ‘Winter Sculpture Park’ – Gallery No.32, London
2024 ‘Interconnected’ – Friends Meeting House, Brighton
2024 ‘the commons’ – Newark Works, FaB2024, Bath
2024 ‘SHOALING’, Curator – The Regency Town House, Brighton & Hove
2023 ‘Who’s been sleeping on my bed’ – 44AD Gallery, FaB2023, Bath
2023 ‘The Art of Creative Research’ – NIE Art Gallery, Singapore
2023 ‘Outcomes Together: CAIR x3’, Curator – Monitor Gallery, UCL, London
2021 ‘Artisteachertakeover’ – Freelands Foundation, London
2021 ‘Artisteachertakeover’, Guest Curator – Freelands Foundation, London
2021 ‘The Art of Walking #3’ – Baeza, Jaen, Spain
2020 ‘Where We Work’ – Freelands Gallery, London
2019 ‘Artist teachers network pop-up’ – Freelands Gallery, London
2019 ‘Making Time, for your artlife’ – Audain Art Centre, UBC, Vancouver, Canada
2019 ‘Making-Place’ – Audain Art Centre, UBC, Vancouver, Canada
2019 ‘Science and Art’ – Gerald Moore Gallery, Greenwich, London
2018 ‘Dark Days, White Nights’ – beta Space Gallery, Alto University, Finland
2018 ‘Research Images as Art: Art Images as Research’ – South Cloisters, Wilkins Building, UCL, London
2016 ‘Research Images as Art: Art Images as Research’ – South Cloisters, Wilkins Building, UCL, London
2015 ‘House of Animal Consciousness’ – Brighton Festival, Open House
1995 ‘To train yourself’ – The Butts Gallery, Reading
1993 Reading University Gallery – London Road, Reading
1992 ‘Reading Arts Festival’ – Apex Plaza, Reading
1991 ‘Rye Art Festival’ – Winchelsea Gallery, Winchelsea
1986 ‘Group show’ – Bonnington Gallery, Nottingham
1985 ‘Group show’ – Bonnington Gallery, Nottingham
Education Research Publications
2024 ‘A Practical Guide to Teaching Art & Design in the Secondary School’ (2024) A. Ash & P. Carr (ed), Oxon, Routledge.
2024 ‘Introduction: A Curriculum of Curiosity and Hope’ (2024) in A Practical Guide to Teaching Art & Design in the Secondary School. A. Ash & P. Carr (ed), Oxon, Routledge. 1-10
2024 ‘Remapping the Curriculum: A Landscape Designed for the Future: Part 1. What has shaped the Art & Design Curriculum to be the Way It is?’ Hope’ (2024) in A Practical Guide to Teaching Art & Design in the Secondary School. A. Ash & P. Carr (ed), Oxon, Routledge. 13-25
2024 ‘The Pupil-Curator: Curating in/as Collaborative Learning’ (2024) in A Practical Guide to Teaching Art & Design in the Secondary School. A. Ash & P. Carr (ed), Oxon, Routledge. 192-204
2024 ‘Remapping the Curriculum: A Landscape Designed for the Future: Part 2. The National Society for Education in Art & Design ‘Big Landscape’: Mapping the Terrain of Art & Design’ (2024) in A Practical Guide to Teaching Art & Design in the Secondary School. A. Ash & P. Carr (ed), Oxon, Routledge. 276-290
2023 ‘The Big Landscape – Designing a curriculum fit for the future’ (2023) in AD, NSEAD publications, Corsham, Issue 37: 02-04.
2023 ‘The Big Landscape – Viewpoints and Perspectives (2023)’ in AD, NSEAD publications, Corsham, Issue 37: 05-07.
2023 ‘Narcissus meets Pandora’ (2023) co-editor InSEA IMAG special issue No.15
2020 ‘International Artist Interactions’ (2020) InSEA IMAG No.10
2019 The unfamiliar grey matter(s): Talking Brains Ash, A (2019) Synnyt/Origins: Finnish Studies in Art Education
2018 Talking Brains: conversations between artists, scientists and educators. Ash, A (2018) AD, Autumn 2018: Issue 23. NSEAD publications, Corsham
2017 Making in the Space of Uncertainty. Ash, A (2017) Freelands Foundation Publication, London
2015 Assessment and examination in art and design. Ash, A (2015) In N. Addison, & L.Burgess (Eds.), Learning to Teach Art and Design in the Secondary School Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
2015 Sculpture in secondary schools. Ash, A (2015) In N. Addison, & L.Burgess (Eds.), Learning to Teach Art and Design in the Secondary School Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
2010 Moving Image, shifting positions, varying perspectives: altering the focus of teachers. Ash, A & Macdonald, I (2010) Media Education Research Journal, Auteur publishing
2008 Transition and Translation: Increasing mobility and extending the European Dimension in Teacher Education. Ash, A. & Burgess, L. (2008) In ‘Teacher Education Policy in Europe: A Voice of Higher Education Institutions’ Hudson, B. & Zgaga, P. (ed), University of Umea, Sweden
2007 Internationalisation of the PGCE Secondary Course: developing international practical teaching placements with Global Student Teachers Ash, A (2007) Pilot project Evaluation Report, University of London
2007 Internationalisation of the PGCE Secondary Course: developing links with Turku University, Finland Ash, A (2007) Pilot project Evaluation Report, University of London
2006 Urban ITT: Training Teachers to Work in Challenging Schools Ash, A, Hall, D & Raffo, C (2006) Research Report for Teacher Training Agency, University of London Publication
2004 ‘Key Factors in the Promotion and Obstruction of Reflective Practice in Beginning Teachers’ Ash, A & Moore, A. (2004) In: Problems of Teacher Education, Piatkiew, E & Witkomirska, A (eds), Warsaw, Wydawnictwa Universytetu Warszawskiego
2002 Reflective Practice in Beginning Teachers: helps, hinderances and the role of the critical other Moore, A. & Ash, A. (2002) Internet Publication: Education-Line, http://www.leeds.ac.uk/educol/documents/00002531.htm
2001 ‘Creativity in Business: Problems of Meaning Management & Measurement’ Ash, A. (2001) In: Creativity in Business & Education, Stasiak, M (ed), Academy of Humanities and Economics, Lodz, Poland