Andrew was born into the art world of mid sixties London, He is the son of the Artist and Illustrator Neil McDonald. Andrew was a sensitive child inspired by art, music and poetry; he learnt to draw in his father’s studio. He was prodigious, when Andrew was 12, Bernie Fuchs, at that time America’s foremost Illustrator, spoke to Andrew’s father Neil about Andrew's increasing artistic abliities. To support Andrew's artistic development Bernie offered to take him to New York to attend Art School. Bernie promised Neil that he would keep his son under his wing but eventually Andrew did not go to Art School in New York. At age 16 he began to concentrate on his music. He also left Secondary School and worked as a General Labourer. He went on to work as a Decorator and General Builder and then a Hod Carrier. At 20 he left the Building site and began to perform in Jazz guitar duos in Central London. In a desire to further his study and work as a musician he put together an audition tape and applied for a place at music school in Hollywood CA USA.
Age 21, after being offered a place, he moved to Hollywood California to attend Music School. He graduated with honours. After music school Andrew spent an extended period moving between London and Los Angeles. Teaching music in London and playing in bands and session work in Los Angeles. He then settled in Los Angeles and formed his own band and continued to develop his love of Poetry. In Los Angeles he also painted figurative and abstract wall hangings, furniture and images directly onto walls for high profile LA clients including the Japanese artist Yamagata.

Returning to London in 1995 he continued with his music, writing and decorative work. In ’97 he briefly returned to Los Angeles but after a few months decided to leave L.A. behind and settle in London. He then trained in Clinical Hypnosis and Psychotherapy. Alongside his art and music Andrew worked as a therapist for over 20 years. 

During this time, Andrew studied Logic, Metaphysics, Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, The life and work of St. Thomas Aquinas, Moral Philosophy and the History of Religious Art. In his art, Andy turned from abstract to figurative in order to translate the images he saw in his mind into external reality. 

Andy's search for artistic expression lead him to research traditional methods, making his own paints and materials in an effort to more truthfully depict his vision. Deeply inspired by his Roman Catholic Faith. Andy's work explores the tonal harmonic qualities of music and paint, and the approach that poetry uses to illuminate essential truths of life; he concentrates on creating images that fuse moment, place and person. In 2008 Andrew submitted his painting Passive Lies the Clay to the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. It sold within minutes of the gallery opening on Buyer’s Day. Since then his work has been shown at many galleries including The Royal Scottish Academy and his paintings are in private collections in UK, Europe, Australia, and the USA.