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(A BRIEF) BIOGRAPHY

 

Andrew Rafferty's first exhibition was on the ancient sites of Britain, and was quickly spotted by mainstream publisher Century Hutchinson who went on to publish his essay of 69 monochrome images with an accompanying text by award winning writer Kevin Crossley-Holland.

The book came out to critical acclaim. Robin McKie in The Observer wrote,

 

Rafferty's stark black-and-white photos are often strikingly beautiful,

and catch the peculiar bleakness so distinctive of standing stones.

 

Since then Rafferty has explored many other themes, including the natural landmarks of Britain. Part of this collection was published by Cape to accompany David Craig's Landmarks, 1995.

 

A fascination with graffiti and why we all wish to leave our mark somewhere and especially on stone led him to create a photographic exhibition where the images were printed on stone itself.

The commission to make a personal response and record of the construction of London's new City Hall designed by Foster and Partners, took his work into new territory. Here, the response to the building during the process of construction was as important as the finished building and Rafferty captured both the work place and the workers. 

Rafferty's wealth of interests and in-depth research of each subject has enabled him to amass a unique collection of British historical and literary landscape images. His artistic approach has led directly to his membership of AXIS - the database of artists.  A unique photographic interpretation of the Christian Passion was displayed at the Phoenix Arts Gallery, Brighton.  Rafferty revisited the Passion and created a new exhibition which was displayed at the Crypt Gallery of St Pancras Church, London to the critical acclaim of an acknowledged expert of Christian art Rowena Loverance. (See Reviews).

Andrew Rafferty's work has been shown in professional and amateur photographic publications as well as newspapers and magazines. He has been interviewed about his work on radio and in print and his work is held in both public and private collections, notably by Ernst and Young whose HQ on the South Bank in London displays no fewer than 113 images and City Hall who hold 16 large scale works.

 

His latest work, which started with the publication SEAHENGE: A JOURNEY uses movement in every image with results that are expressionistic.