Every time we put together images for a webpage, postcards or a newsletter, this terrifying image seems to always find its way on to the shortlist... Michael

This sculpture by George Wylie seems to cover many aspects of your personality and my experience working with you across the paintings and sculpture project. 'The Launch' (which I trust there will be many more of) shows a bottle of champagne and the super-size flute...there is never enough champagne...a Glasgow memory! Aptly this piece is in Glasgow and the artist was born in my birth town of Greenock. Also, I just had to choose a sculpture.

Have a lovely birthday and hope there are at least 150,000 bubbles, if not sculptures. ;-)

Hazel x

Happy birthday, Andy! There are 138 ‘Director’ portraits on Art UK. It’s been hard to choose (there's a fabulous Dring portrait of Peter Craig, former Director of Jaguar), but I’m sending birthday wishes via Richard Foster’s Director General Portrait – Michael Checkland (1994) of the BBC. He paved the way for a more modern system, which you have in common. He’s at ease in his office, and I like that the paper on his desk is highly visible, portraying him as open, accountable and easy to talk to. No reference intended to his nickname ‘Michael Chequebook’ … comments based on the aesthetic and narrative qualities of the portrait!

Have a great day and an amazing year!

Marion

How Andy feels after we've updated him on the number of sculptures! Happy Birthday, Alison.

This is the most celebratory artwork I think I've ever seen. I hope your birthday is just as exciting! Julia

Happy Birthday Andy! This is one of my favourite 'single figure' Lowrys and coming myself from his home turf, I have seen it many times. It has always made me smile broadly but also resonates I think with your tireless hard work, fund raising, and promotion of Art UK; a man trying to catch a moment's rest in an endless stream of meetings, telephone calls, and negotiations! Hope you are able to have a really wonderful celebration despite these challenging times, Anthony

This reminds me of your epic parties, including the fancy dress one where we each went as a painting. You made the most effort, turning up as Lawrence of Arabia, which put most other people's efforts to shame!

Have a great birthday Andy! Sorry that you won't get a big party this year, but hopefully you'll be able to have one in the future.

Katey

Congratulations and many happy returns, Andy! I chose this view to remind you of your time in Japan. It's a beautiful calm image and comes with the hope that you find time to relax on your birthday. With every good wish, Mary Rose (and John)

I know from your Instagram that you're also drawn to this work and I have to say the bookshelves reminded me of the ones behind you when on Zoom! Hope you get the chance to escape the home office and celebrate lots for this special birthday. Have a great day and year!

Shane

This was the artwork we used for the invite to the Art UK Summer Party last year. I will never forget working away all afternoon in your kitchen on canapés, making Vietnamese spring rolls and copious amounts of beetroot mousse. Somehow this painting's bright yellows and lazing figures seemed to predict the intense heat we all had to endure that day!

Happy birthday Andy! I hope you have a great day and are able to celebrate in style when normality resumes.

Flora

Happy birthday, Andy! Hope you have a lovely day, despite the strange circumstances of this year...

I chose this beautiful portrait as I keep coming back to it. When I started work at Maiden Lane, the East Sussex catalogue promotional materials, with this painting on the cover, were propped up all around the office. I remember thinking it was so striking. It seems a fitting representation of the rich and intriguing stories that can be found within the country's art collection – all made accessible through the project you have led for over a decade.

Jade

We saw this Ceri Richards painting in the store at Glynn Vivian in 2008. I do not remember whether this sparked a conversation about re-learning the piano in middle age but I think about it now in relation to that. Raise a glass on your 60th birthday to many more years happy playing!

Happy Birthday! Camilla

Could this be Mr and Mrs Ellis in a few years time although I’m not sure about the cat. You choose.

Happy birthday Andy. Best wishes, Charles

This charming painting of Pond Square, Highgate reminds me of yours and Lucy's beautiful home. It's by Charles Ginner, an early-20th century painter whose work I enjoy and who I thought you might also like!

Happy Birthday! Hope it is a fabulous day :)

Lydia

Happy Birthday Andy, best wishes from David! I chose for you the pianist, Harriet Cohen. It's early 20th Century, a love of yours. It's a portrait, and yes, of course, from the NPG. More importantly it sums up what you have been doing at Art UK since its inception, promoting lesser known, but astonishing art in UK Collections, and with Clara Klinghoffer, promoting women artists and those from different minorities. I had to get sculpture in here somewhere, so Epstein said of the artist 'a painter of the first order...Her understanding of form places her in the very first rank of draughts(wo)men in the world.' There’s something to be said too about the artist and the Ede’s at Kettles Yard and her sister Leah, but damn this 750 character lim

Many happy returns Andy!

I decided on this portrait of Grisi, as she was the first to sing the role of Norina. I recalled from one of our deviations from technology catch-ups to the opera that Don Pasquale was a favourite of yours, so it seemed a good choice!

I hope you have a wonderful celebration, despite present circumstances. In the absence of Covent Garden you might also enjoy this little clip of John del Carlo in the lead role.

Terry

A very happy birthday Andy!

I chose this sculpture of Captain Cook cycling through the wall because it reminds me of my very first day in the London office. You arrived in your cycling gear carrying your bike, and when someone told me "Oh, by the way, he's the Director!", I was really surprised. That episode is a reminder of your being practical, down-to-earth, and always on the move.

The title also couldn't be more appropriate: with your far-sightedness and courage, you always know how to steer Art UK in the right direction, without being afraid of asking for advice even from more junior staff. Ad maiora!

Chiara

"To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower, Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour." William Blake

Joyeux Anniversaire Andy!

-Lise

Hazel brought the champagne but there's no birthday party without cake - I hope you like it! Happy Birthday Andy! Jessie

Happy Birthday Andy!

I wanted to choose a work that illustrated your leadership along with your collective spirit. I chose this Boyle Family work as a genuine shared effort, which like Art UK, is a bit random and bumpy, but beautiful!

Enjoy, Lulu

Happy Birthday Andy!

This sculpture always brings back memories of blue skies, sunshine and ice creams on the beach in Brighton – not a bad location for a meeting!

Hope you have a fantastic day celebrating with your family.

Lauren

Andy

I have always strongly associated you with this figure, not because I think there is any resemblance or psychic connection between you two, but because the painting was printed out and stuck on the wall of the loo in the Maiden Lane office. We must have spent a good few cumulative hours contemplating this image. Happy Birthday.

Edward

Happy Birthday Andy.

I chose this, not because it's your last berth before being broken up, but because I remember first seeing you wandering the corridors of the National Gallery.

All the best, Colin.

Happy Birthday Andy!

I began working for Art UK on the first-day lockdown, which sadly means I've not had the pleasure to meet you or others in real life.

Zoom has been a big part of my experience working at Art UK, so the artwork I have chosen is what I imagine an 18th Century Zoom meeting to be like...

Katie

Happy birthday Andy – I hope you're lucky enough to enjoy a feast like this on the day.

Louise

Happy Birthday Andy – here’s a lucky sculpture for you...(you may need to zoom in to spot it!) I have been processing lots of public sculpture recently and thinking about the important place they have within the fabric of our communities - reflected in the ‘stories’ that accompany so many of them. So this is a tribute to the role that Art UK is playing in getting so many sculptures online for people to find out about – and your vision in making this happen. May the lucky dog make your birthday wishes come true! Maggie

Dear Andy,

Wishing you a very Happy Special Birthday! I hope you get to really enjoy it with your family.

I chose Walldella IV by David Bachelor from The Government Art Collection because this sculpture was my very first Masterpieces in Schools loan back in July 2018. We were lucky enough to have the artist David himself come to the school to talk to the children, have a tour and see what they were making. I met him by chance at the bus stop that morning before heading to the school together! It was a really special and memorable event.

I hope also that this luminous and joyful artwork really lights-up what looks likely to be a rather grey, wet and windy day...

Have a wonderful birthday!

Selina

Happy birthday Andy! This artwork makes me think of you for a few reasons – firstly it's by Yinka, so in my mind it's tied to him being our Patron and the fantastic party in his studio. Secondly, highlighting black (and other overlooked) artists is such an integral part of Art UK's work, particularly over the last year or so. Thirdly, the ship in a bottle itself is also like Art UK. On the face of it an impossible construction, yet there it sits – proof that impossible things can be done when you have the will to achieve them! Have a fantastic day. Andrew

Happy birthday Andy! Here is something to remind you of the opening of Art UK's Glasgow office in Scotland Street School Museum (no strange sculptures of children haunting the corridors in this picture though). It also reflects what a fantastic educational resource Art UK is for all of us. Hope you have a brilliant day. Alec

Andy, wishing you a joyful birthday celebration!

There aren't many images of spinning plates on Art UK and of the two to be discovered, this intriguing work by John Armstrong, from the Wellcome Collection, captures a little something about the Art UK house you have skilfully spun into the spectacular form it is today.

Aidan

Happy Birthday Andy! The first time I visited the Peek House office I remember complimenting you on your choice of tie: a pastelly abstract design you said you had bought from a vintage shop in Japan. It turns out the selection of ties on offer in the UK's public art collections is spectacularly drab, so this will have to do - imagine these four very dazzling ties are zooming towards you through space. A kind of sartorial pyrotechnic display for your birthday. Have a lovely day! Aled

Happy Birthday Andy!

On the Glasgow team's first visit to the London office, you tested us with naming the inspiration for this painting; The Resurrection by Piero della Francesca and The Triumph of Caesar by Mantegna(?). I don't think any of us got it back then!

Hope you have a great birthday.

Iain