Sean Scully is one of today's best-loved abstract painters. Over more than thirty years, he has produced a vibrant and compelling body of work that is widely collected and internationally exhibited. His familiar signature style of lines or bands of color, alluding to architectural elements such as portals, windows, and walls, is one of the most instantly recognizable in contemporary painting. This book is the first fully illustrated monograph to present an account of the artist's entire lite and career to date, from his childhood in 1950s London, via New York and Barcelona, to the present day in Munich. Lavish, full-page reproductions of all his major works illustrate the text, while photographs taken by Scully on his travels show some of the forms that inspire them. Photographs of Scully at work in his studio demonstrate stage-by-stage how he creates his pictures, from blank canvas to finished work. Eminent art historian and critic David Carrier traces the development of Scully's oeuvre and assesses its significance. Drawing on his many conversations with Scully, Carrier provides unique insights into the artist's working methods and the motivations for his art. Extracts from Scully's own passionate writings and lectures on painting complete a volume that should be found on all contemporary art bookshelves.