Rodney Matthews | |
|---|---|
 Matthews in 2016 | |
| Born | Rodney Clive Matthews 6 July 1945 Paulton, England |
| Known for | Painting, drawing, conceptual design |
| Movement | Fantasy art, science fiction, surrealism |
| Website | rodneymatthewsstudios |
Rodney Matthews (born 6 July 1945) is a British illustrator and conceptual designer of fantasy and science-fiction.
Trained at the West of England College of Art, Matthews worked in advertising for Plastic Dog Graphics before turning freelance in 1970, initially under the name Skyline Studios. [1] [2]
Matthews has painted over 140 subjects for record album covers, for many rock and progressive rock bands. [3] More than 90 of his pictures have been published worldwide, selling in poster format, [4] as well as many international editions of calendars, jigsaw puzzles, postcards, notecards, snowboards and T-shirts. His originals have been exhibited throughout the UK and Europe. He has been a regular exhibitor at the Chris Beetles Gallery, [5] in London's West End, where he met English comedian, actor, writer and producer John Cleese, [6] an avid collector of his work.
Matthews has illustrated numerous books, including those by English fantasy and science fiction author Michael Moorcock. [7] [8] Their collaboration in the 1970s resulted in a series of 12 large posters, depicting scenes from Moorcock's Eternal Champion series. These images were also used for a 1978 calendar entitled "Wizardry and Wild Romance". [9]
In 1998, Matthews and the late Gerry Anderson completed Lavender Castle , a 26-episode stop-motion/C.G. television series for children. [10] It was produced at Cosgrove Hall Films in Manchester and purchased by ITV for the UK. [11] Matthews has also contributed concept designs for the 2005 film The Magic Roundabout . [12]
He supplied conceptual designs for computer games such as the Sony/Psygnosis game Shadow Master [13] and Haven: Call of the King , published by Midway. [14] Matthews has produced some publicity and a logo for the green energy company Ecotricity. [15]
He has also written lyrics and played drums on a music album influenced by his images; American guitarist Jeff Scheetz, John Payne (Asia) on bass guitar, Oliver Wakeman (Yes) on keyboards and Pete Coleman (composer and multi-instrumentalist). [16]
 | This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification .(March 2021) |
Album covers (including EPs, LPs and DVDs) [17] :
| This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification .(March 2021) |
Anthologies:
Portfolios:
Illustrated books:
Paperback covers:
Others:
(Rodney Matthews' images have also been used on many international editions, particularly for Moorcock's German publishers.)
Magazine covers:
Vortex: The Science Fiction Fantasy:
Imagine (published by T.S.R. Hobbies (UK) Ltd):
FAB – The Gerry Anderson Fan Magazine:
Others:
| This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification .(March 2021) |
Bands:
Recordings:
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
