Born and raised in the boroughs of East London, Matt Dwyer a self-taught mixed media artist has been taking paint to paper as far back as he can remember. His talent was recognised early at the tender age of 11. In later life going into his late teens he was in conflict with promising careers in both rugby union and art but realising art and design was his true passion he went on to study, emerging with a degree in graphic design. Dwyer then went on to become a freelance designer building up a client base working alongside fashion companies and popular UK high street brands creating artwork for men’s clothing.
With a natural talent for painting Dwyer has now broken through to the Fine Art arena. His paintings often feature recognisable figures from film, TV and pop culture, along with pieces depicting the beauty of nature. His process sees him working in mixed media including spray paint, resin, gold leaf foil, oil paint and 3D elements – often combined in the same artwork – while his background in graphic design informs his compositions; with details such as text, double exposures of pattern and overlaid paint splatters all adding to the impact of the finished piece. As well as using traditional canvas, Dwyer paints onto wood, steel, and textured surfaces which he treats by scorching the board with a blow torch or rusting a piece of steel as well as allowing the natural lines, texture and grains to show through. The patterns of the wood and metal, which can be seen through the brushstrokes, adds to the rustic, grunge aesthetic that runs throughout the artist’s body of work. As a self-taught fine artist Dwyer has developed his skills and techniques over the years, creating his own visual language. His work can be found in galleries, magazines, exhibitions and homes across the globe.
Self-taught or art school?
I started off by drawing when I was a kid from the age of 5. I remember drawing a lot at home and at school. Even at an early age I remember getting satisfaction from seeing a blank piece of paper develop into a piece of artwork. I soon discovered I had a talent and an interest in art. In my later years of education, I studied fine art at sixth form college and then went on to achieve a graphic design degree at university. However, some of the current techniques I use are all self-taught through trial and error and curiosity.
If you could own one work of art what would it be?
I already own it. The first painting my son ever did for me in nursery for father’s day. Other than that, I would have the statue of David displayed in my garden.
How would you describe your style?
I am quite diverse on what I produce due to my fine art and graphic design background. My style ranges from digital media art to oil paint on canvas to oil paint on wood and rusting metal. But I would describe my developing style as rustic contemporary. I am really enjoying the process of creating rustic pieces with a decayed look as the method I use produces something different every time. I like to step away from the norm to create something unique and different.
Can you tell us about your art process?
I’ve always been a bit of a freethinker, but I think that has only benefited my creative thinking and artwork. My mind and imagination are constantly working overdrive and so many ideas used to pop into my head but for them to disappear just as quick replaced by something new. I have now got into the habit of noting ideas everywhere and anywhere or taking photos. I have a random folder of my weird and wonderful thoughts for current and future pieces. I also keep a huge collection of my own reference pictures. So, when deciding on my next piece I often refer to previous thoughts, ideas and photos.
Being a mixed media artist imagination and trial and error plays an important role in my process. I have a general vision in my mind of how I want the piece to look but it often develops and evolves into something more as I progress. I don’t tend to work from one reference photo but a range of different photos with the aim of taking the best aspects from each one and reflecting that in my final composition.
Because I don’t do primary sketches or paintings I often have to step back and analyse my progress as I go, deciding what I need to add or remove until the composition and colour pallet start to pull together.
Is narrative important within your work?
Now yes whereas a few years ago not necessarily . My style and themes have developed over the years and now I consider myself a “story teller” artist. I work to intentionally build into my pieces via subject, composition, colour, and light a bit of mystery, unexpectedness or emotion as a way of conveying to the viewer my experience of the time or place captured on the canvas I like my art to allow people to imagining stepping into the painting transporting them into another place or world allowing their imagination to get lost within the painting.
Who are your favourite artists and why?
I don’t really have an inspirational figure or a favourite artist, I tend to appreciate all artists past and present and I appreciate different forms of art from a painting on canvas, a piece of well-done graffiti to a piece of sculpture. However, I am fascinated and in awe of artists like Michelangelo and the other Florentine Renaissance masters. For me Michelangelo exerted an unparalleled influence on the development of Western art. In my opinion Michelangelo is the greatest artist of his age and possibly the greatest artist of all time.
What or who inspires your art?
The ‘What’ that inspires my art is the reactions to my artwork from both people I know and those I have never met. I have always looked to provoke a positive reaction or a reaction of wonder to how I achieved a certain effect or finish on my work. My kids are my biggest critics due to them being young and innocent, so as most children do, they say what they honestly think. If they give a piece of my art the thumbs up, I know I’ve nailed it.
I also feel a sense of achievement when I see a piece of my artwork on the wall of someone’s home, within a restaurant or a small/big business, or being displayed in the window of an art gallery. It makes me think about the journey that piece of art has been on, from a blank canvas in my dining room to a new home for all to see
The ‘Who’ are those closest to me. My partner inspired me to take up art again after a long time out of the fine art game. 8 years in fact. I lost my creative thinking drive and belief due to unfortunate events and making the choice of taking a job that paid the bills and put food on the table rather than pushing for an art career. I just started to consider art as a hidden talent I had, rather than something serious. One day I showed her some of my work and she was shocked of what I was able to produce. She said my talents are being wasted and they shouldn’t be hidden. I then took up brush to canvas once again and I haven’t looked back since.
Where’s your studio and what’s it like?
My studio is a corner of my dining room. Or an easel in my garden. Even though it isn’t a big lavish studio it’s still that little bit of space I can call mine to get immersed into my art.
Do you have any studio rituals?
No not really. I like to work in a relatively peaceful quiet environment, so a lot of my painting is done when the kids are at school or in bed. I ensure I am organised so I can optimise my time and productivity.
What are you working on currently?
I am currently working on pieces for an exhibition in London being held in April 2021. I am also part of an exhibition in autumn 2021 at an art gallery in Scotland so I am quite busy producing new original pieces to exhibit.
Where can we buy your art?
I have original artwork available at Penny Black gallery and Optimum fine art, both located in Essex. I will also have new originals available at The Whitehouse Gallery located in a historic artist town in Scotland. I also sell artwork directly through my media handle Instagram account. (matt_dwyer_master_arts)
