Rodney Matthews
Born July 6th 1945, Rodney Matthews is a world-renowned illustrator and conceptual designer of fantasy and science-fiction. When the genre went large in the early 1970s Matthews was there, at the very heart of the movement, shaping a vision for new a generation. His poster art sold in their millions worldwide under the banner of the legendary Big O poster company and publishers immediately sought his attention.
He has made a lasting impression in the literary world, none more so than his depiction of Michael Moorcock's Elric of Melniboné, his characterisation so deeply ingrained in readers' imaginations that, fifty years on, commissions for the saga still continue.
Matthews' distinctive style flowed naturally from the covers of books to those of records, a symbiotic fit for the emerging rock scene, where hard rock became a little harder and soft rock ever softer. Since Matthews' first EP cover for Thin Lizzy, his illustrations have adorned over 150 albums - from prog rock by the likes of Asia, Eloy and Rick Wakeman to hard rock from Magnum, Nazareth and more.
In a career that has spanned decades, Matthews has also made his mark in the video game industry, working alongside the likes of Traveller's Tales and Sony Psygnosis, as well as in animation, notably creating a major children's TV series - 'Lavender Castle' - for Gerry Anderson in the 1990s and more recently his own multi-award winning short film 'Yendor - The Journey of a Junior Adventurer'.
Currently, Matthews is developing his own intellectual properties, a second animation for his pint-sized adventurer Yendor, and, following the successful release of his children's book Oddney's Otherland, he is working on further tales for the eccentric Professor Oddney and his loyal magpie friend Magnus. With his other hand, Rodney is also a talented musician and is recording drums for his next album.
Matthews' work has been widely exhibited. He has committed collectors all over the world, some of whom remain anonymous, whilst others, like writer and actor John Cleese, do not:
"I have several of Rodney’s masterpieces. I warn you: if you start looking at the images, you’ll be hooked, and don’t blame me!"
He has made a lasting impression in the literary world, none more so than his depiction of Michael Moorcock's Elric of Melniboné, his characterisation so deeply ingrained in readers' imaginations that, fifty years on, commissions for the saga still continue.
Matthews' distinctive style flowed naturally from the covers of books to those of records, a symbiotic fit for the emerging rock scene, where hard rock became a little harder and soft rock ever softer. Since Matthews' first EP cover for Thin Lizzy, his illustrations have adorned over 150 albums - from prog rock by the likes of Asia, Eloy and Rick Wakeman to hard rock from Magnum, Nazareth and more.
In a career that has spanned decades, Matthews has also made his mark in the video game industry, working alongside the likes of Traveller's Tales and Sony Psygnosis, as well as in animation, notably creating a major children's TV series - 'Lavender Castle' - for Gerry Anderson in the 1990s and more recently his own multi-award winning short film 'Yendor - The Journey of a Junior Adventurer'.
Currently, Matthews is developing his own intellectual properties, a second animation for his pint-sized adventurer Yendor, and, following the successful release of his children's book Oddney's Otherland, he is working on further tales for the eccentric Professor Oddney and his loyal magpie friend Magnus. With his other hand, Rodney is also a talented musician and is recording drums for his next album.
Matthews' work has been widely exhibited. He has committed collectors all over the world, some of whom remain anonymous, whilst others, like writer and actor John Cleese, do not:
"I have several of Rodney’s masterpieces. I warn you: if you start looking at the images, you’ll be hooked, and don’t blame me!"
