Andrew Wamae Director and Co-founder The Essential School of Painting, Director The Pear Tree Open Gallery
Andrew has a deeply held belief in the power of art to transform lives and society, and a particular interest in exploring new models for art education beyond school; championing the twin ideals of excellence and affordability in a highly pressurised sector when university fees are soaring and student/ tutor contact time is at an all time low. With the ongoing COVID situation he is particularly keen to ensure that the visual arts continue to be supported and thrive well into the new world that we will be coming into.
A creative, innovative and visionary professional, Andrew, in conjunction with his co-founder Alison Harper, has transformed the Essential School of Painting from humble beginnings to an established institution holding from one-day to year-long courses and workshops for all levels of experience; from beginners to postgraduate and professional artists. He has managed to enlist the support of a long list of celebrated artists to teach or lecture at the school or in their studios. These amongst others include Turner prize winner Grayson Perry CBE RA, Turner prize nominee Dr. David Mach RA, Eileen Cooper OBE RA, Bob and Roberta Smith OBE RA, Dr Sandy Moffat OBE RSA, Hughie O’Donaghue RA, Jock McFadyen RA , and the late Dr Leonard McComb RA,
Grayson Perry CBE RA giving his ESOP lecture ‘Why I Am Not A Painter’ 
Eileen Cooper OBE RA and Andrew Wamae
The leadership Andrew has shown has led to a dramatic growth and development of the school. Over the last seven years the school has grown from a monthly course to today having a fully interactive website, a 9 member Advisory board, full time Artistic Director, a public outreach programme and prominent social media presence. We run year-long courses 7 days a week, both in studio and online, a number of short and weekend courses all inter-spaced with artist studio visits, private and national galleries visits, artist talks and an annual student exhibition. Today we have a Faculty of 23 esteemed artist- tutors. The school is actively connected to just over 1200 artists, art students, art collectors, gallery owners and art enthusiasts. The ESOP regularly conducts book launches, Art forums, panel discussions and exhibitions.
L-R: Rt Hon. David Lammy MP, Andrew, Alison Harper (Artistic Dir. ESOP) & Nadine Herbst (ESOP Art Scholar 2019-20) 
L-R: Byron Dixon OBE, Odutayo Omobola MBE & Andrew Wamae
10 Downing Street
This year with the COVID-19 crisis Andrew led the school in transitioning to online classes ensuring no break in our course-work and in our determination to meet the needs of our students. He instigated our new online ESOP Artist Talks on Friday evenings; insisting that they should be free for all attendees. In the academic year 2020-21 the school will hold 9 yearlong courses with over 96 participants. We will be announcing a continuation of art scholarships and partnerships, and expanding our Young Artists ESOP Newman Scholarship programme and a social interactive outreach programme both here and abroad.
Prof Sir Christopher Frayling – ESOP VIP guest and Andrew Wamae 
Prof Dr Alexander ‘Sandy’ Moffat – President of ESOP and Andrew Wamae
Whilst maintaining a keen emphasis on building communities through which students and artists can support each other beyond their courses, Andrew seeks, through the ESOP, a means to seed opportunities for students to receive what they truly need to reach their potential and benefit wider society in the process. Affordability is a crucial element for emerging artists to progress; currently an MA is beyond the financial reach of many. Our costs are a fraction of the mainstream courses with the quality of tutors being equal and tutor contact time greater. Painting is particularly supported at the ESOP as a training that is often found to be languishing in art education in favour of more conceptual approaches.
Andrew is skilled in ideas, operating from principles, strategy, negotiation, business planning, finance and coaching having worked in the Fine Art and Finance industries. He has experience working with the media having worked as a producer for BBC World Service Africa-Middle East. A double honours graduate in Law and Economics from the celebrated University of Baroda, India. After working for various law firms in India and Kenya Andrew settled in the United Kingdom in December 1999. In 2004 he and artist Alison Harper co-founded the Essential School of Painting. In 2013 he joined the school on a full time basis as the Director focusing on strategic planning, product development, marketing and promotion of the school in the UK and abroad.