A brush with... Andrew Cranston

A brush with... Andrew Cranston

From A brush with... by The Art Newspaper

April 28, 2026 · 1h 13m · Season 33 · Episode 4

About this episode

Andrew Cranston discusses his artistic influences and the cultural experiences that shape his work.

Andrew Cranston talks to Ben Luke about his influences—from writers to musicians, film-makers and, of course, other artists—and the cultural experiences that have shaped his life and work. Cranston, who was born in 1969 in Hawick, Scotland, draws on experiences—moments seen, felt or remembered—which are filtered, embellished, complicated, and sometimes almost obliterated through the process of being painted. As well as reflecting on personal events, from childhood memories and the recollections of family members, to more recent rituals and exploits, Cranston’s pictures are rich in cultural resonance. Images and ideas from the history of art and cinema, from poems and television series, are central to his work, whether as a core motif or a subtle reference in the title. As a result, his practice is deeply concerned with time and history—not just in recalling past events and experiences and transforming them in the present, but in his materials and methods. He often uses the covers of old hardback books, bleached by light over the years, as a surface, for instance, and the paintings hold time in their very physicality—in the immediacy of a painted gesture, in the steady build-up of…

People in this episode

Host: Ben Luke

Guest: Andrew Cranston

Topics covered

  • art influences
  • cultural experiences
  • painting techniques
  • memory and history
  • personal reflection

Keywords

  • Andrew Cranston
  • Ben Luke
  • art
  • cultural resonance
  • painting
  • memory
  • history

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Hawick, Scotland

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