Andrew Sookrah

Andrew Sookrah Biography

Sookrah is a raw colourist whose free brushwork is confident and powerful. His strengths can be seen in his strong sense of design, exquisite use of effective composition, confident presentation of bold colours… and in his figurative and portraiture work, his capturing the essence of the human spirit.

His is a masterful expression of the unity of nature. Andrew Cheddie Sookrah was born in Guyana in 1956. In Georgetown he attended Queen’s College where he was recognized for his artistic expression from an early age having won the school’s art prize in 1971. At age 16, Sookrah started working as a designer and illustrator at Ace Advertisers (Georgetown, Guyana), and quickly moved into the role of the company art director.

In 1974 Sookrah immigrated to Canada and attended multidisciplinary continuing education programs at the Ontario College of Art (OCA), George Brown College and Ryerson University. His beginnings in design and illustration opened a life of parallel passions. While continuing to paint and carve out his artistic existence, Sookrah involved himself in advertising and opened Engine Room Creative, a successful design development studio and advertising & marketing agency in Toronto. As the Creative Director of Engine Room, he has worked on provincial and national campaigns, as well as international campaigns in the US and UK.

Sookrah’s technical knowledge and might of communication lead him into fine art instruction. Today he conducts workshops and teaches painting techniques in oil, acrylic and watercolour at various institutions including including McMichael Canadian Art Collection, Richmond Hill Art School and The Lodge on Amherst Island.

An active member of the Arts & Letters Club of Toronto for twenty-four years, Sookrah served many terms on the Club’s Art Committee and was the convenor of its 3rd Floor Sunday Figurative Painting Sessions for nine years. Over the years his work was included in various juried group exhibitions at the Club.

Sookrah regularly donates work to charitable auctions and foundations including REACH, Gilda’s Club, Creative Art GEMS Auction, KidSport Canada, and the Roseneath Foundation. He was also a sponsor of the Student Drawing Award at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition (TOAE) at City Hall for several years.

Sookrah’s work is in Corporate and Private Collections in Canada and the US.