Painter and draughtsman, born in Baillieston, Glasgow. Anderson studied at Glasgow School of Art, 1980–4, gaining a fine art honours degree. He had early success, winning the John D Kelly Award at the Glasgow School in 1981. Further awards included D W T Cargill Award (under 30), in 1984, and Arthur Young Exhibitionship Prize, 1987, both at Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts; and in 1989 the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Award and the Arts in Fife Purchase Award, Fife House Collection. In 1984 Anderson showed in mixed exhibitions at Compass Gallery in Glasgow and Open Eye Gallery and Mercury, both in Edinburgh, and many other group shows soon followed. His first solo show was at Corners Gallery, Glasgow, 1985, then from the early 1990s Ewan Mundy Fine Art showed Anderson in Glasgow, London and New York.