Andy Richardson (writer)

Andy Richardson is a British writer, food photographer and publisher. He worked with the Oscar-nominated actor Pete Postlethwaite to ghostwrite his autobiography, A Spectacle of Dust (published Orion, 2011). He has worked at New Musical Express,^[1] where his cover features included Prince,^[2] Bono,^[3] Oasis^[4] and Radiohead.^[5] He has worked for numerous British and international newspapers and magazines. He works as a specialist food photographer and publisher of cookery books.^[6]

Richardson had worked with Postlethwaite for two years on the actor's ghostwritten memoir, prior to its publication on 23 June 2011.^[7] It won encouraging reviews, with The Guardian's film critic Peter Bradshaw observing Richardson's sympathetic treatment and describing the memoir as "an extrovert, tender, charming and unselfconscious book, with some extraordinary, hell-raising and hair-raising anecdotes",^[8] and The Evening Standard noting that 'The closing chapter is deeply wrenching.'^[9] The book featured on The Sunday Times best-seller list and was recommended as one of its Books of the Year for 2011. The newspaper's tribute noted Richardson's contribution in finishing the book on behalf of Postlethwaite, who died prior to its completion. It reported 'The final chapter, as Postlethwaite succumbs to cancer, is immensely moving.'^[10]

Richardson has won a number of awards and nominations. He worked closely with Oasis during 1996-1998, becoming the first journalist to report on their worldwide hit (What's The Story) Morning Glory?, in exclusive interviews with Noel Gallagher.^[11] He is an investigative reporter and journalist, having completed assignments around the world.^[12] He is assisting Benjamin Zephaniah by ghostwriting his autobiography, The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah.

He also works as a food photographer and was a contributor to Relish Midlands, Relish Cotswolds and Oxfordshire, Relish South West, Relish South East, Relish North West Second Helping and Relish Wales Second Helping, among others in the Relish series. The books showcase recipes and photography featuring Michelin-starred and AA Rosette-rated restaurants.^[13] He also took photographs for, edited and published The Cat, The Cook and The Cook's Assistant, a book of recipes, photographs and stories from Mr Underhills, in Ludlow, the former Harden's UK Resataurant of the Year in 2012.^[14] He photographed and published Out of the Kitchen, by chocolatier Mellanie Fallon, in 2013;^[15] Cook Thai, by Suree Coates; Born and Bread, by Ludlow baker Robert Swift; and Flavour, by Marcus Ashenford, at Restaurant 5 North Street,^[16] which featured forewords by Alain Roux,^[17] from the Waterside Inn, and David Everitt-Matthias, from Le Champignon Sauvage.

In 2015, his company, www.awaywithmedia.com ^[18] published the debut cook book from Stephen Terry, entitled Inspired... By. The book was critically acclaimed by James Martin, Nathan Outlaw, Sat Bains, Ashley Palmer-Watts and Andrew Fairlie, among others.

He has worked as a photographer with such Michelin-starred chefs as Claude Bosi, from Hibiscus;^[19] Gary Jones, at Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons; Michael Caines, at Gidleigh Park; Glynn Purnell, at Purnell's;^[20] Andreas Antona, at Simpsons; Sam Moody, at The Priory; Hywel Jones, at Lucknam Park and many more.

In 2016 he ghostwrote and published the autobiography of T'Pau (band) ^[21] singer Carol Decker, entitled Heart And Soul.^[22]

Richardson is a visiting lecturer in music journalism at Birmingham City University's school of media.

References