ABOUT MATT

Matt is an Academician in the South West Academy (SWAc).

Born in Exeter, his paintings represent a strong affinity with the natural landscapes and coastlines of Devon and Cornwall.  Self-taught, his paintings combine the traditional and technical aspects of working in oils, with a contemporary and expressive approach.  Matt explores the space between realism and semi-abstraction, simplifying form in varying degrees through his painterly visual language.  His work evokes a vivid sense of place, particularly inspired by the dynamic effects of light and atmosphere.  The process typically involves working with tonal sketches to make compositional decisions, before using oils on board.  

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“I try to depict a sense of place and really capture the essence of the subject.  I always look to convey the moment with some degree of accuracy but want to paint more than just an accurate likeness.  My paintings seek to express an empathetic response to the landscape and the movement of the sea.

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Mark-making plays an important role for me.  I enjoy paintings that provide interest from close-up as well as when viewed from across the room, offering more levels to which the viewer can respond.”

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Matt was selected as an Academician with The South West Academy in January 2021.