Henry Kondracki

Born and brought up in Edinburgh as a first-generation Scot to Polish parents, Henry Kondracki grew up under the influence of the American movies and cartoons that he would see in the cinemas around the city each week. Leaving school at 15, he taught himself to draw and had his first exhibition at the Citizens Theatre, Glasgow, when he was 17. In 1981 he went to London to study at the Byam Shaw School of Art before being accepted to the Slade School of Art. At the Slade his illustrious rollcall of tutors included Paula Rego and Bruce Mclean.

Kondracki's paintings are synonymous with the city of Edinburgh. His practice combines observed experience with memories of his childhood in the city. Speaking about his work, Kondracki has described memory as 'the lifeblood of creativity.' His paintings celebrate the joy of remembering and the role of the painter in distilling, recasting and representing our world.