The Nottingham resident has completely transformed his life, trading boardrooms for brushstrokes in a remarkable journey of self-discovery.
Andy Taylor, 59, established Art Haus after leaving behind a demanding career as chief marketing officer at a financial services software company based in Dublin that supplies products to banks. The role involved frequent transatlantic commutes alongside regular trips to operations in Germany and the Netherlands.
Describing the lifestyle, he noted that extensive travel appears attractive from the outside but proves genuinely exhausting. His position on the executive leadership team brought significant pressure, and after seven years in the post, the demands had become all-consuming. Despite genuine enjoyment of the work, his personal life had virtually disappeared.
Success became his primary focus as his mental and physical condition deteriorated. He acknowledged reaching a stage where his health, including his psychological wellbeing, was being significantly affected. His weight had increased by approximately five stone compared to his current frame, his diet was poor, physical activity was nonexistent, and he experienced frequent anxiety.
The man we encountered this week presented a striking contrast. Calm, relaxed and visibly content, he invited us into his Mapperley residence to discuss his remarkable transformation.
His corporate trajectory ended following an unplanned response during a boardroom discussion. When the chief executive asked whether he could commit to a major expansion initiative, his immediate reply was negative.
His manager responded with wholehearted encouragement, praising his exceptional contributions to a business that had expanded from 20 staff members to several hundred and was generating substantial revenue. The exit process was handled sensitively, and on his final day, his superior observed that he had been one of the most influential figures in the company’s development.
Following three and a half decades in the corporate sector, Andy now spends his time creating artwork from a studio in his garden. Over the past twelve months, he has sold forty paintings.
His venture, Art Haus, focuses on contemporary abstract works depicting oceans and skies, rendered in vivid blues, rich pinks and warm reds. Pieces range in size from 30 centimetres square to two metres by one metre.
When he departed from his position in June 2025, he sensed this path might suit him but had not picked up a paintbrush for many years. He explains that while he had always appreciated art and painting, the practical skills had faded. He experimented briefly and enrolled in instructional programmes to relearn the craft, finding the experience thoroughly enjoyable and wondering whether he might pursue it seriously.
One online programme was led by full-time artist Ciara Gilmore. She taught him to paint from an emotional perspective rather than merely replicating visual subjects. He credits this instruction as probably the most significant decision during that period, as it provided the assurance needed to fully commit to the venture.
As his brushwork developed, he shed weight, experienced greater serenity and joy, and his connections with loved ones strengthened.
Original works are priced between £40 and £600, though one particular piece commanded £1,000. His acrylic compositions employ the impasto method, building up thick, textured layers using a palette knife to make the paint emerge from the surface, a technique requiring considerable time and patience.
His former supervisor is currently acquiring two pieces for the workplace. The two maintain their friendship, which Andy finds gratifying, describing it as a positive conclusion to what might have unfolded very differently had he not chosen to step away. He resides with his supportive partner Lee Wightman.
Applying his marketing background, he developed a website and shares his output through Instagram. However, the majority of sales have originated from personal recommendations. He explains that buyers frequently discuss their acquisitions with acquaintances, who subsequently express interest themselves, a pattern he finds both flattering and unexpected.
His initial sale was to a companion. He admits uncertainty about whether others would appreciate his work, experiencing self-doubt and questioning his right to pursue this direction.
Additional pieces found buyers through exhibitions held at the Drawing Room Gallery in Cobden Chambers, Nottingham, and Broadway Gallery on Heathcoat Street in Hockley. He also received commission requests.
A collection comprising eighteen works titled Into the Light documented his transition from the stress and worry of his previous occupation to what he now experiences as a positive and illuminating chapter, symbolising both literal light and the metaphorical relief from burdens. He reflects that the past year has been extraordinary and still feels surreal. Had someone spoken with him twelve months earlier, he would have been in a state of distress. He continues consulting for up to three days monthly, keeping one foot in his former field.
He declares that he is now living life to the fullest. Initial apprehension was considerable and the move required courage, but he believes the decision was correct. While obstacles and unexpected pressures have emerged along the way, these represent just five percent of the stress he previously endured.