Andrew studied composition at the University of Huddersfield with Richard Steinitz, winning the Ricordi Prize for Composition. He was then awarded a full British Academy prize to study at the University of Sussex with Michael Finnissy and in Jonathan Harvey's composition class, receiving the Stockhausen Foundation award for composition during his time there. His works have been premiered by groups including Ensemble Firebird, Ixion, London Sinfonietta and The Balanescu String Quartet as well as many other performers in the UK and Europe. He has also been a featured composer on BBC radio 3’s ‘Hear and Now’ programme. "Duende", for 17 instruments, was given its London premiere at the Barbican by the London Sinfonietta, conducted by Markus Stenz.
Recent pieces such as 'The edge of rain and sea' and 'Distant Spaces' focus the integration of IRCAM's research applications into his compositional strategy, which has enabled a connection between frequency-based structures and figural ideas in his music. His continued studies in this area have been particularly inspired by research into acoustics, with the application of the techniques of sound analysis and transformation playing an important part in his aesthetic approach. Recent meetings with Brian Ferneyhough and Beat Furrer in Darmstadt further focussed these ideas, where 'in the heights of the air', for Cello and Piano, was premiered at the International Ferienkurse Für Neue Musik in 2016. He is currently composing a String quartet to be completed in 2022, as well as a larger piece for 15 instrumentalists.
Andrew also composes and performs Jazz and has worked in film and media music. In the Jazz genre, he has composed for a variety of ensembles, most notably his own trio and sextet groups. As both composer and performer, he has appeared at festivals and concerts in the UK and Europe. In the film world, his scores have been heard at festivals all over the world including those in Los Angeles, New York, London and at European festivals such as the Taormina International festival in Sicily. He has also composed for theatrical, multi-media and radio productions and has won many awards including Best Impact Of Music In a Feature at the 2008 Park City Film Music Festival, Utah (during Sundance) and the Silver Remi prize for Music at 2006 Worldfest Houston, Texas.