Matthew’s paintings are primarily portraits and figurative pictures. However, his aim is not to create a decorative or beautiful image of a particular person, rather it explores the process of mark making, colour and the paint itself in an endeavour to create an image that will stand on its own.

Often working from life or found images, these starting points are not transposed onto a surface but are used as a jumping off point. Occasional portraits appear but the image is better described as a head or figure. It is hoped that the qualities of the paint and mark making will create an energy that supplants attempts at likeness and realism. Ultimately it’s an attempt at going beyond an image that is demonstratively decorative, clever and skilled but rather creates an image that is its own source of energy and has its own reason for being. Needless to say this is a process and succeeds more or less with each proceeding image.

Pound Arts - 2024 March Solo Show, Corsham (29th March-27 April)

Lightness of Being - 2023 Solo Show Roper Gallery Bath

Ruth Borchard Collection - 2023

Black Swan Frome - 2022 - People’s Choice Award

Pound Arts Open - 2021 First Prize.

RWA Open - 2020 Open

Bath Society of Artists - 2020 Open.

Bath Society of Artists - 2018 Open.

Bath Society of Artists - 2016 Open.

West Surrey College of Art & Design

Brunel University