I loved comics as a small boy and by the time I was ten I had decided to become a “commercial artist” when I grew up......
Graphic Design at Kingston School of Art was preceded by Foundation Studies at Farnham.
I worked as a graphic designer, ad agency visualizer and animation studio artist (working on the classic BBC programmes Crystal Tips & Alistair and Fingerbobs) before making the move to freelance illustration and character design.
With over thirty years of experience I’m happy to work on a broad and diverse range of subjects and media.
Work to date includes Japanese TV ads, packaging, logo design, touring exhibitions, greetings cards, editorial, educational and children’s book illustration.
One of my cards (featuring an elephant) made a surprise appearance in the film “The Tall Guy”.
I created The Bumms series of calendars and the Hedgehog Revenge board game and cards.
I enjoy the challenge of character design and have created characters for Coca-Cola, Trust House Forte, Cadburys, the Food and Drink Federation and many others.
Children’s book illustration includes two of Jeffrey Archer’s ventures into children’s publishing.
A popular range of books for Christian Focus.
The Snappy book series for Templar Publishing which has global sales in excess of 12 million.
Snappy Sounds Boo achieved the number one slot in the US Juvenile Non-fiction Chart.
Snappy Sounds Woof received a National Parenting Publications Gold Medal Award and Snappy Little Fairytales gained an Honour Award.
My work has regularly appeared in the Sunday Times and I have supplied illustrations for many RNID and AA publications and created and supplied images and concepts for in house communication and motivational campaigns for General Motors and BT.
workshopsPast events include talks/workshops at
Cheltenham Book Festival, Seven Stories Newcastle, Borders Books (Burlington, Boston USA)
and Pinnacle Streatham as part of the NCH Art Matters! scheme.
I am happy to talk about visual communication and any other aspects of my work and illustration in general along with giving practical advice and guidance for adults or children.
Please contact me regarding creating a workshop.
Suggested titles and subjects include:
“Can’t Draw Won’t Draw”
Drawing for beginners and reluctant artists.
“Draw Your Own Conclusions”
An introduction to illustration and visual communication.
“Creating simple pop-ups”
Title says it all.
“Character Building Stuff”
An introduction to creating cartoon characters.
“Reeling, Writhing and Fainting in Coils”
A beginners guide to book and editorial illustration.
contact the
studio
studio@derekmatthews.co.uk
for more about
Snappy Books
www.snappy.tv
or via my agent
Three in a Box
www.threeinabox.com/dermat.html
more examples of work at
contact
www.contact-me.net/derekmatthews
my character Frank
FDF
www.foodlink.org.uk
Website
optimised and maintained by
21st Century Internet