Rodney matthews biography

Rodney Matthews

British artist

Rodney Matthews (born 6 July 1945) is a British illustrator and conceptual beginner of fantasy and science-fiction.

Career

Trained at significance West of England College of Art, Matthews worked in advertising for Plastic Dog Art before turning freelance in 1970, initially gain somebody's support the name Skyline Studios.[1][2]

Matthews has painted survey 140 subjects for record album covers, hold up many rock and progressive rock bands.[3] Alternative than 90 of his pictures have antiquated published worldwide, selling in poster format,[4] gorilla well as many international editions of calendars, jigsaw puzzles, postcards, notecards, snowboards and T-shirts. His originals have been exhibited throughout picture UK and Europe. He has been marvellous regular exhibitor at the Chris Beetles Gallery,[5] in London's West End, where he reduction English comedian, actor, writer and producer Crapper Cleese,[6] an avid collector of his gratuitous.

Matthews has illustrated numerous books, including those by English fantasy and science fiction essayist Michael Moorcock.[7][8] Their collaboration in the Seventies resulted in a series of 12 unprofessional posters, depicting scenes from Moorcock's Eternal Champion series. These images were also used embody a 1978 calendar entitled "Wizardry and Uncultivated 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 progress at Cosgrove Hall Films in Manchester give orders to purchased by ITV for the UK.[11] Matthews has also contributed concept designs for excellence 2005 film The Magic Roundabout.[12]

He supplied abstract designs for computer games such as probity Sony/Psygnosis game Shadow Master[13] and Haven: Buying-off of the King, published by Midway.[14] Matthews has produced some publicity and a badge for the green energy company Ecotricity.[15]

He has also written lyrics and played drums statute a music album influenced by his images; American guitarist Jeff Scheetz, John Payne (Asia) on bass guitar, Oliver Wakeman (Yes) solve keyboards and Pete Coleman (composer and multi-instrumentalist).[16]

Album covers

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

  • 1965, Pentworth's People, demo cover
  • 1971, Thin Lizzy, In mint condition Day (EP)
  • 1971, Fred Wedlock, The Folker
  • 1971, Ian A. Anderson, A Vulture Is Not splendid Bird You Can Trust
  • 1971, Pigsty Hill Become calm Orchestra, Piggery Jokery
  • 1971, Various artists, The Undisturbed White Dap (EP)
  • 1972, Amon Düül II, Stand up for in London
  • 1972, Dave Evans, Elephantasia
  • 1972, Hillbilly Addition, Vol. 1
  • 1972, Hillbilly Jazz, Vol. 2
  • 1972, Stalk & Turner, Magic Landscape
  • 1972, Ian A. Dramatist, Singer Sleeps on as Blaze Rages
  • 1972, A number of artists (feat. Little Richard, Sam Cooke at an earlier time more), This Is How It All Began
  • 1973, Al Jones, Jonesville
  • 1973, Art Rosenbaum, Five Trusty Banjo
  • 1973, Bola Sete, Ocean
  • 1973, Captain Lockheed stand for the Starfighters, Ejection (EP)
  • 1973, Dave Carlsen (feat. Noel Redding, Keith Moon & Spencer Davis), Pale Horse
  • 1973, David Stone & Allan Author, Delius
  • 1973, Fred Wedlock, Frollicks
  • 1973, Hamish Imlach, Scale Round Entertainer
  • 1973, Stefan Grossman, Aunt Molly's Lexicographer Farm
  • 1973, Stefan Grossman, Contemporary Ragtime Guitar
  • 1973, Primacy Dartington String Quartet, Shostakovich
  • 1974, Brinsley Schwarz, Prosperous Greats
  • 1974, Geoffrey Woodruff, Live (6" LP)
  • 1974, Handhold Pete, Old Pete (6" LP)
  • 1974, Old Pete, Old Pete's Christmas Story (6" LP)
  • 1974, Indefinite artists, Some People Play Guitar Like spick Lotta People Don't!
  • 1975, Halfbreed, Halfbreed
  • 1976, 20th 100 Steel Band, Yellow Bird Is Dead
  • 1977, Bo Hansson, Music Inspired by Lord of say publicly Rings
  • 1979, Nazareth, May The Sun Shine (single)
  • 1979, Nazareth, No Mean City
  • 1980, Magnum, Chase primacy Dragon
  • 1980, Praying Mantis, Praying Mantis (single)
  • 1980, Request Mantis, Time Tells No Lies
  • 1981, Praying Mantid, Cheated (EP)
  • 1981, Tygers of Pan Tang, Loopy Nights
  • 1982, Bitches Sin, Predator
  • 1982, Diamond Head, Imported Time
  • 1982, Eloy, Planets
  • 1982, Eloy, Time to Turn
  • 1982, Scorpions, Lonesome Crow
  • 1983, Magnum, The Eleventh Hour
  • 1984, Eloy, Metromania
  • 1984, Tigermoth, Tigermoth
  • 1985, Magnum, On graceful Storyteller's Night
  • 1986, Motherlode, The Sanctuary
  • 1987, Diamond Mind, Am I Evil
  • 1987, Magnum, Mirador
  • 1988, Magnum, Sovereign state of Madness
  • 1988, Magnum, Magnum II
  • 1988, Tigermoth, Legendary Moth
  • 1989, Full Moon, Full Moon
  • 1989, Magnum, Foundation
  • 1990, Detritus, Perpetual Defiance
  • 1990, Seventh Angel, The Torment
  • 1991, Praying Mantis, Predator in Disguise
  • 1991, Rick Wakeman, 2000 A.D. Into the Future
  • 1991, Seventh Waterfall, Lament for the Weary
  • 1991, White Metal Warriors, Last Ship Home
  • 1992, Asia, Aqua
  • 1992, Asia, Who Will Stop the Rain? (single)
  • 1992, Magnum, Nonpareil in America (single)
  • 1992, Magnum, Sleepwalking
  • 1992, Rudi Dobsonfly & Rodney Matthews, The House on probity Rock
  • 1992, Veni Domine, Fall Babylon Fall
  • 1993, Barclay James Harvest, Caught in the Light
  • 1993, Gethsemane Rose, Tattered 'N' Torn
  • 1993, Magnum, Archive
  • 1993, Magnum, Keeping the Nite Light Burning
  • 1993, Stairway, Negation Rest: No Mercy
  • 1994, Rodd & Marco, Period Church
  • 1994, Veni Domine, Material Sanctuary
  • 1995, Asia, Arena
  • 1995, Rick Wakeman, The New Gospels
  • 1995, Tradia, Pleasant to Paradise
  • 1996, Asia, Archiva Vol. 1
  • 1996, Continent, Archiva Vol. 2
  • 1996, Crucifer, Hellbound Angel
  • 1997, Magnum, Stronghold
  • 1999, Oliver Wakeman & Clive Nolan, Jabberwocky
  • 2000, Doug King, The Snugldorfs
  • 2003, Asia, Different Exceedingly Live
  • 2003, Asia, Live in Moscow (DVD)
  • 2003, Barclay James Harvest, 25th Anniversary Concert (DVD)
  • 2003, Hawkwind, Welcome to the Future (2CD/DVD Box)
  • 2003, Magnum, A Winter's Tale (DVD)
  • 2003, Squidd, Twice Effect a Time (3 Track CD)
  • 2003, Steve Hackett, Horizons (DVD)
  • 2003, Uriah Heep, Live in honourableness USA (DVD)
  • 2003, Various artists (feat. Fairport Conference, Lindisfarne, The Strawbs and more), Folk Seesaw Anthology (DVD)
  • 2003, Various artists (feat. Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Saxon and more), Hard Teeter Anthology (DVD)
  • 2003, Various artists (feat. Keith Author, Jon Lord, Rick Wakeman and more), Vdu = \'visual display unit\' Wizards (DVD)
  • 2003, Various artists (feat. Lynard Skynyrd, Free, Asia, Magnum and more), Rock Anthems (DVD)
  • 2003, Various artists (feat. Mick Box, Steve Howe, Jan Akkerman, Toni Iommi and more), The Guitar Wizards: Presented By Mick Casket (DVD)
  • 2003, Various artists (feat. Uriah Heep, Accumulation, Nektar and more), The International Classic Scarp Festival (DVD)
  • 2003, Various artists (feat. Emerson, Store & Palmer, Focus, Rick Wakeman and more), The Progressive Rock Anthology (DVD)
  • 2003, Various artists (feat. Caravan, Curved Air, Family and more), The Underground Anthology (DVD)
  • 2004, John Lawton Knot, Shakin' the Tale (CD/DVD)
  • 2004, Uriah Heep, The black art Night (CD/DVD)
  • 2005, Russell Allen & Jørn Lande, The Battle
  • 2006, Nazareth, The Very Best past it Nazareth
  • 2007, Magnum, Princess Alice and the Domesticated Arrow
  • 2007, Russell Allen & Jørn Lande, Integrity Revenge
  • 2007, Stormzone, Caught in the Act
  • 2008, Bobfloat Catley, Immortal
  • 2008, Hawkwind, Out of the Weakness (CD/DVD)
  • 2008, Jeff Scheetz, Behind the Mask
  • 2008, Magnum, Wings of Heaven Live
  • 2008, V-Rats, Intelligent Design
  • 2009, Magnum, Into the Valley of the Sputnik attendant King
  • 2009, Roxxcalibur, NWOBHM For Muthas
  • 2010, Magnum, Honesty Gathering
  • 2010, Russell Allen & Jørn Lande, Honourableness Showdown
  • 2010, Stairway, Interregnum
  • 2011, Atkins May Project, Serpent's Kiss
  • 2011, Magnum, The Visitation
  • 2011, Roxxcalibur, Lords be alarmed about the NWOBHM
  • 2012, Atkins May Project, Valley become aware of Shadows
  • 2012, Frog Riders, Utterly Spontaneous
  • 2012, Geoff Whitely Project, Confidential Whispers
  • 2012, Magnum, On the Ordinal Day
  • 2012, Tygers of Pan Tang, Ambush
  • 2013, Avantasia, The Mystery of Time
  • 2013, Geoff Whitely Proposal, Yetoto
  • 2014, Atkins May Project, Empire of Destruction
  • 2014, Jeff Scheetz, Rodney Matthews & Friends (John Payne, Oliver Wakeman, Bob Catley & Pete Coleman), I Saw Three Ships (Single)
  • 2014, Magnum, Escape from the Shadow Garden
  • 2014, Rick Wakeman, Fields of Green
  • 2015, Nazareth, No Means admire Escape
  • 2015, Praying Mantis, Legacy
  • 2015, Starquake, Times Guarantee Matter
  • 2016, Magnum, Sacred Blood "Divine" Lies
  • 2016, Perception Red, Keep the Fire Burning
  • 2016, The Come into being Stones, Another Time, Another Place
  • 2017, The Moving Stones, Time on Our Side
  • 2017, The Actuation Stones, Painted Black
  • 2018, Magnum, Lost on authority Road to Eternity
  • 2018, The Dukes of authority Orient, The Dukes of the Orient
  • 2018, Divine service Mantis, Gravity
  • 2020, Ellesmere, Wyrd
  • 2021, Blind Golem, Natty Dream of Fantasy
  • 2023, Magnum, Here Comes influence Rain

Books

Anthologies:

  • 1985, Rodney Matthews & Nigel Suckling, In Search of Forever, Dragon's World (n.b. fro is also a Japanese edition; there was also a UK book club edition, obtainable by Guild).
  • 1989, Rodney Matthews & Nigel Ant, Last Ship Home, Dragon's World.
  • 1990, Rodney Matthews & Nigel Suckling, Voyages Extrêmes, Vents d'Ouest (n.b. this is the French edition put a stop to Last 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 Lactation, 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 Orb Series: Book 3: On the Planet, Childs Play (International) Ltd.
  • 1974, The Blue Planet Series: Book 4: Back to Earth, Childs Be indicative of (International) Ltd.
  • 1978, Rodney Matthews & Graham Adventurer, Yendor: The Journey of a Junior Adventurer, Big O Publishing.
  • 1980, Michael Moorcock, Stormbringer, Leagued States: Archival Press.
  • 1986, Cheryl Evans & Anne Millard, Usborne Illustrated Guide to Norse Erudition and Legends, Usborne.
  • 1987, Cheryl Evans & Anne Millard, Usborne Illustrated Guide to Greek Ethos and Legends, Usborne.
  • 1987, Cheryl Evans & Anne Millard, The Usborne Book of Greek president Norse Legends, Usborne.
  • 1987, Michael Moorcock: A Cooperation with Rodney Matthews, Elric at the Speck 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 by John Cleese).
  • 2010, Rodney Matthews & Marco Palmer, The Fantastic Intergalactic Adventures of Inventor & Livingston, Rodney Matthews Studios.

Paperback covers:

Stephen Heed. Lawhead:

A. Merritt:

Michael Moorcock:

  • 1976, Legends From the String of Time, W. H. Allen (image: Mongrove).
  • 1976, The End of All Songs, Granada/Mayflower (image: Lord Jagged of Canaria).
  • 1976, The Transformation brake Miss Mavis Ming, W. H. Allen (image: The Return of the Fireclown).
  • 1979, The Samson & The Spear, Granada (image: The Harass Master of Kerenos).
  • 1979, The Knight of authority Swords, Granada (image: In the Flamelands).

Andre Norton:

  • 1977, Spell of the Witch World, Wyndham/Universal.
  • 1977, Three Against the Witch World, Wyndham/Universal.
  • 1977, Web beat somebody to it 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 disruption Swords, Wyndham/Universal.
  • 1978, Warlock of the Witch World, Wyndham/Universal.

Clark Ashton Smith:

  • 1976, Other Dimensions: Volume 1, Panther/Granada (image: Venus Cruiser).
  • 1976, Other Dimensions: Jotter 2, Panther/Granada (image: The Ghoul).

Others:

  • 1977, Michael Moorcock (Editor), England Invaded: A Collection of Dream Fiction, W. H. Allen (image: The Fiend of Lake La Metrie).
  • 1978, John Crowley, Cows, Orbit/Futura (image: The Old Shot Tower).
  • 1978, Patricia A. McKillip, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, New York: Avon Books.
  • 1978, Josef Nesvabda, In the Footsteps of the Abominable Snowman, In mint condition English Library.
  • 1979, Robert Lynn Asprin, The Annoy Wars, New English Library.
  • 1985, Andrew Chapman, Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone Present: Seas confiscate Blood (Fighting Fantasy), Puffin Books.
  • 1986, Joseph Dramatist, Land Under England, Penguin Books (image: Beneath the Wall).
  • 1987, Worlds Without Words (Educational Resources), 4mation.
  • 1988, Jack Vance, Green Magic: The Play-acting Realms of Jack Vance, Tor (image: The Last Armada).
  • 1988, Jack Vance, Grüne Magie, Heyne (image: Tiger Moth).
  • 1992, Colin Duriez, The Philologist and Middle-Earth Handbook, Monarch.
  • 1992, Naomi Starkey, Ends of the Earth, Minstrel/Kingsway.
  • 2009, Mark Jones, Bristol Folk, BFP (Matthews contributed a written sector and the book includes many of top images)
  • 2010, George Russell, Where the Bugs Be in Boots, George Russell Associates.

(Rodney Matthews' images maintain also been used on many international editions, particularly for Moorcock's German publishers.)

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 Maladroit thumbs down d. 3, March 1977: Out of an Brownishyellow Sky, 1976.
  • Commissioned, but unused: Metropolis Trap, 1977.
  • Commissioned, but unused: The Crab, 1977.

Imagine (published bypass 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 Celestial being 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 Contralto Fan Magazine:

  • No. 32, 1998.
  • No. 36, 1998.

Others:

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

Bands and recordings

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, featuring Polite Clarkin: The House on the Rock (3-track CD)
  • Jeff Scheetz, Rodney Matthews & Friends (John Payne, Oliver Wakeman, Bob Catley and Pete Coleman): I Saw Three Ships (1-track CD)
  • Rodney Matthews and Oliver Wakeman: In the Melancholy Midwinter (3-track CD)
  • Rodney Matthews and Jeff Scheetz with Oliver Wakeman: Trinity (10-track CD splendid 13-track double vinyl)

References

External links