Matthew Lyons

Matthew Lyons is a Nottinghamshire artist based in Beeston, with a lifelong passion for art and design. Growing up in Keighley, a Yorkshire industrial town near Bradford, he was drawn to creative expression from an early age. His artistic journey led him to study design at the prestigious Royal College of Art in London, enabling him to pursue a successful professional career while continuously developing his painting practice. Matthew primarily creates figurative works that delve into themes of fragility, sensitivity, and vulnerability, but occasionally will painting 'portraits' of trees he finds in the woods. Trees, he says, have personalities. His painting process is raw and expressive, often pushing materials to their limits—wearing out and even breaking paintbrushes in the pursuit of his vision. He describes painting as both the best and worst thing he does; a deeply fulfilling yet sometimes frustrating challenge when a piece isn’t coming together as intended. Approaching each painting as an opportunity to grow, Matthew experiments with paint, line, and surface to bring out the essence of his sitters. His belief that ‘a painting should work up close and far away’ is evident in his textured, dynamic compositions. He deeply values the connection with his subjects, finding great joy in getting to know them and sharing the painting experience—often a unique and once-in-a-lifetime event for them. Inspired by artists such as Lucian Freud, Paula Rego, and Vincent van Gogh, Matthew continuously seeks new influences to refine his artistic approach. Working primarily with oil paints on heavily primed plywood boards, he begins with charcoal sketches, allowing the raw textures to guide his process. This method enables him to explore the interplay of light, shadow, and expression in depth. In 2023, Matthew was selected to compete on Sky Arts’ Portrait Artist of the Year, where he had the opportunity to paint Fleur East under intense time constraints. This experience pushed him to refine his techniques further and embrace the spontaneity of live portraiture. Most recently, Matthew was shortlisted for the Herbert Smith Freehills Portrait Prize, further cementing his place in contemporary portraiture. Through his work, he strives to capture the extraordinary within the ordinary, revealing the depth of human experience and the vibrant spirit of the individuals he paints.

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