Andy Comley

Andy Comley Artist, Art Psychotherapist and Medical Herbalist As a brief introduction to myself academically and professionally, I have enjoyed a career as an artist lasting over twenty five years. As an artist I have received national and regional arts awards for public art works and residencies, which have previously taken me to the former USSR, Sampi, China, Nepal and North East India and will take me to the Americas in the coming year. Nearly a decade after my fine arts graduation I returned to university and subsequently broadened my professional portfolio over the next few years with an Art Psychotherapy career. For example I am a senior art therapist for The Emotional Trauma Support Team (One Education, Manchester) working in schools over the last thirteen years, whilst I also lecture at Universities and facilitate many professional training events. Finally five years ago I graduated from University as a Medical Herbalist and I run a consultancy practice, where I implement the vision of combining my skills in the holistic treatment of patients. A brief look at my website will hopefully begin to illustrate the many different settings and types of creative work I have had the pleasure in contributing to. My final creations have either cumulated in permanent public art works or have enabled academic and cultural developments within residency partnerships, rather than following perhaps the more traditional gallery exhibition route. Having said this, over the last few years my personal art work has taken the form firstly of writing and subsequently film that I do exhibit. Film: Zanni and the Mountebank A tale of magical discovery where a young child develops the confidence to explore her inner world. This leads her to transform her disbelief in the power of the natural world to heal her worst nightmares. The film emulates the tradition of the travelling Medicine Show and what was known as the Physic Opera where Medical Herbalists once traded their wares alongside a diverse range of musicians and performers. The film attempts to be both an entertaining and thought provoking story, whilst it is a campaign for the validation of traditional herbal medicine. I am indebted to the many readers, musicians and film technicians who gave their time and support in the film's production. If you would like to see further information and examples of my work then please visit www.acomley.com