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Rodney Matthews

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Rodney Matthews
Matthews in 2016
Born
Rodney Clive Matthews

(1945-07-06)6 July 1945(age 79)
Paulton,England
Known forPainting, drawing, conceptual design
MovementFantasy art,science fiction,surrealism
Websiterodneymatthewsstudios

Rodney Matthews(born 6 July 1945) is a Britishillustratorand conceptual designer offantasyandscience-fiction.

Career

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Trained at theWest of England College of Art,Matthews worked in advertising forPlastic Dog Graphicsbefore turning freelance in 1970, initially under the name Skyline Studios.[1][2]

Matthews has painted over 140 subjects for recordalbum covers,for many rock andprogressive rockbands.[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 producerJohn Cleese,[6]an avid collector of his work.

Matthews has illustrated numerous books, including those by English fantasy and science fiction authorMichael Moorcock.[7][8]Their collaboration in the 1970s resulted in a series of 12 large posters, depicting scenes from Moorcock'sEternal Championseries. These images were also used for a 1978 calendar entitled "Wizardry and Wild Romance".[9]

In 1998, Matthews and the lateGerry AndersoncompletedLavender Castle,a 26-episode stop-motion/C.G. television series for children.[10]It was produced atCosgrove Hall Filmsin Manchester and purchased byITVfor the UK.[11]Matthews has also contributed concept designs for the 2005 filmThe Magic Roundabout.[12]

He supplied conceptual designs for computer games such as theSony/PsygnosisgameShadow Master[13]andHaven: Call of the King,published byMidway.[14]Matthews has produced some publicity and a logo for the green energy companyEcotricity.[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]

Album covers

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Album covers (including EPs, LPs and DVDs)[17]:

Books

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Anthologies:

  • 1985, Rodney Matthews & Nigel Suckling,In Search of Forever,Dragon's World(n.b. there is also a Japanese edition; there was also a UK book club edition, published by Guild).
  • 1989, Rodney Matthews & Nigel Suckling,Last Ship Home,Dragon's World.
  • 1990, Rodney Matthews & Nigel Suckling,Voyages Extrêmes,Vents d'Ouest (n.b. this is the French edition ofLast Ship Home).
  • 1997, Rodney Matthews & Nigel Suckling,Countdown to Millennium,Collins & Brown.

Portfolios:

  • 1990, Rodney Matthews & Nigel Suckling,The Rodney Matthews Portfolio,Dragon's World.
  • 1993, Rodney Matthews &Pauline Fisk,The 2nd Rodney Matthews Portfolio,Dragon's World.
  • 1994, Rodney Matthews & Nigel Suckling,Rodney Matthews (Paper Tiger Miniatures),Paper Tiger.

Illustrated books:

  • 1974,The Blue Planet Series: Book 1: Blast Off!,Childs Play (International) Ltd.
  • 1974,The Blue Planet Series: Book 2: The Journey,Childs Play (International) Ltd.
  • 1974,The Blue Planet Series: Book 3: On the Planet,Childs Play (International) Ltd.
  • 1974,The Blue Planet Series: Book 4: Back to Earth,Childs Play (International) Ltd.
  • 1978, Rodney Matthews & Graham Smith,Yendor: The Journey of a Junior Adventurer,Big O Publishing.
  • 1980,Michael Moorcock,Stormbringer,United States:Archival Press.
  • 1986,Cheryl Evans& Anne Millard,Usborne Illustrated Guide to Norse Myths and Legends,Usborne.
  • 1987,Cheryl Evans& Anne Millard,Usborne Illustrated Guide to Greek Myths and Legends,Usborne.
  • 1987,Cheryl Evans& Anne Millard,The Usborne Book of Greek and Norse Legends,Usborne.
  • 1987,Michael Moorcock:A Collaboration with Rodney Matthews,Elric at the End of Time,Dragon's World.
  • 1994, Felicity Brooks,Tales of King Arthur,Usborne.
  • 1998, Felicity Brooks,Tales of King Arthur & His Knights,Usborne.
  • 1999,Doug King& Rodney Matthews,The Snugldorfs – Smile God Loves You!United States:Cepher.
  • 2008,Lewis Carroll,Alice in Wonderland,Templar(foreword byJohn Cleese).
  • 2010, Rodney Matthews & Marco Palmer,The Fantastic Intergalactic Adventures of Stanley & Livingston,Rodney Matthews Studios.

Paperback covers:

Stephen R. Lawhead:

A. Merritt:

Michael Moorcock:

Andre Norton:

  • 1977,Spell of the Witch World,Wyndham/Universal.
  • 1977,Three Against the Witch World,Wyndham/Universal.
  • 1977,Web of the Witch World,Wyndham/Universal.
  • 1977,Witch World,Wyndham/Universal.
  • 1978,Sorceress of the Witch World,Wyndham/Universal.
  • 1978,The Year of the Unicorn,Wyndham/Universal.
  • 1978,Trey of Swords,Wyndham/Universal.
  • 1978,Warlock of the Witch World,Wyndham/Universal.

Clark Ashton Smith:

Others:

(Rodney Matthews' images have also been used on many international editions, particularly forMoorcock'sGermanpublishers.)

Magazine covers:

Vortex: The Science Fiction Fantasy:

  • Vol. 1 No. 1, January 1977: Vortex,1976.
  • Vol. 1 No. 2, February 1977: Space Hijak,1976.
  • Vol. 1 No. 3, March 1977: Out of an Amber Sky,1976.
  • Commissioned, but unused:Metropolis Trap,1977.
  • Commissioned, but unused:The Crab,1977.

Imagine (published by T.S.R. Hobbies (UK) Ltd):

  • No. 1, April 1983: Elric and Moonglum,1976.
  • No. 9, December 1983: Imagine,1982.
  • No. 12, March 1984: The Guardian Awakes,1982.
  • No. 22, January 1985: Earl Aubec of Malador,1984.
  • Issue and date unknown:Araneida the Destroyer,1983.
  • Sales leaflet cover:Who Disturbs the Tyrant?,1983.

FAB – The Gerry Anderson Fan Magazine:

  • No. 32,1998.
  • No. 36,1998.

Others:

  • Software Communications Magazine,The Fury,1988.
  • Skivor & Band,The Rainbow Room,1993.
  • Classic Rock Trade Magazine,The Hop,2003.

Bands and recordings

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Bands:

  • The Cheetahs
  • The Rhythm Cats
  • Pentworth's People
  • Barnaby Goode
  • Originn
  • Squidd

Recordings:

  • Pentworth's People: Demo on vinyl (2 tracks)
  • Squidd: Twice Upon a Time (3-track CD)
  • Frog Riders: Utterly Spontaneous – Jam Session (7-track CD)
  • Rudi Dobson & Rodney Matthews, featuringTony Clarkin:The House on the Rock (3-track CD)
  • Jeff Scheetz, Rodney Matthews & Friends (John Payne,Oliver Wakeman,Bob Catleyand Pete Coleman): I Saw Three Ships (1-track CD)
  • Rodney Matthews and Oliver Wakeman: In the Bleak Midwinter (3-track CD)
  • Rodney Matthews and Jeff Scheetz with Oliver Wakeman: Trinity (10-track CD and 13-track double vinyl)

References

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  1. ^Read, Al; Brace, Terry (2003).The rock years 1969–1988.Bristol: Broadcast Books. p. 10.ISBN9781874092827.OCLC851743737.
  2. ^"Matthews, Rodney".The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction.Retrieved29 October2015.
  3. ^"Portfolio".Rodney Matthews Studios.Retrieved11 October2021.
  4. ^"Rodney Matthews".Artists UK.Retrieved29 October2015.
  5. ^Berghammer, Billy."Haven Artist Revealed".Nintendo World Report.Retrieved29 October2015.
  6. ^"Rodney Matthews".Dutch Progressive Rock.Retrieved29 October2015.
  7. ^"Rodnet Matthews".John Guy Collick. 10 April 2012.Retrieved29 October2015.
  8. ^"Rodney Matthews".Get Ready to Rock.Retrieved29 October2015.
  9. ^"Rodney Matthews: One of the world's top graphic designers talks about his Christian faith".Cross Rhythms.Retrieved29 October2015.
  10. ^"Lavender Castle (1999)".Toon Hound.Retrieved29 October2015.
  11. ^"Lavender Castle".IMDb.Retrieved29 October2015.
  12. ^"Rodney Matthews".British Film Institute.Archived fromthe originalon 12 August 2014.Retrieved29 October2015.
  13. ^"Shadow Master Review".Games Spot.Retrieved29 October2015.
  14. ^"Rodney Matthews Creates Artwork for Midway's Haven: Call of The King".Game Zone. 4 May 2012.Retrieved29 October2015.
  15. ^"Nu Jerusalem".Ecotricity.Retrieved29 October2015.
  16. ^"Rodney Matthews releases Christmas CD I Saw Three Ships and Exclusive Art".With Guitars.Retrieved29 October2015.
  17. ^"Portfolio".Rodney Matthews Studios.Retrieved11 October2021.
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