Rodney Matthews


Rodney Matthews is a British illustrator and conceptual designer of fantasy and science fiction.

Career

Trained at the West of England College of Art, Matthews worked in advertising for Plastic Dog Graphics before turning freelance in 1970, initially under the name Skyline Studios.
Matthews has painted over 130 subjects for record album covers, for many rock and progressive rock bands. More than 90 of his pictures have been published worldwide, selling in poster format, as well as many international editions of calendars, jigsaw puzzles, postcards, notecards, snowboards and T-shirts. His originals have been exhibited throughout the UK and Europe. He was a regular exhibitor at the Chris Beetles Gallery, in London's West End, where he met English comedian, actor, writer and producer John Cleese.
Matthews has illustrated numerous books, including those by English fantasy and science fiction author Michael Moorcock. Their collaboration in the 1970s resulted in a series of 12 large posters, depicting scenes from Moorcock’s ‘Eternal Champion’ series. These images were also used for a 1978 calendar entitled ‘Wizardry and Wild Romance’.
In 1998, Matthews and the late Gerry Anderson completed Lavender Castle, a children's animation series. It was produced at Cosgrove Hall Films in Manchester, England and purchased by ITV for the UK. Matthews has also contributed concept designs for the 2005 movie 'The Magic Roundabout'.
He supplied conceptual designs for computer games such as the Sony/Psygnosis game Shadow Master and, published by Midway. Matthews has produced some publicity and a logo for the UK’s pioneering green energy company Ecotricity.
He has also written lyrics and played drums on a music album influenced by his images; American guitarist Jeff Scheetz, John Payne on bass guitar, Oliver Wakeman on keyboards and Pete Coleman.

Album covers

Album covers :
Anthologies:
Portfolios:
Illustrated books:
Paperback covers:
Stephen R. Lawhead:
  • 1990, The Paradise War, Lion Books.
  • 1991, The Silver Hand, Lion Books.
  • 1992, The Endless Knot, Lion Books.
A. Merritt:
  • 1977, The Face in the Abyss, New York: Avon Books.
  • 1977, The Moon Pool, New York: Avon Books.
Michael Moorcock:
  • 1976, Legends From the End of Time, W.H. Allen.
  • 1976, The End of All Songs, Granada/Mayflower.
  • 1976, The Transformation of Miss Mavis Ming, W.H. Allen.
  • 1979, The Bull & The Spear, Granada.
  • 1979, The Knight of the Swords, Granada.
Andre Norton:
  • 1977, Spell of the Witch World, Wyndham/Universal.
  • 1977, Three Against the Witch World, Wyndham/Universal.
  • 1977, Web of 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 of Swords, Wyndham/Universal.
  • 1978, Warlock of the Witch World, Wyndham/Universal.
Clark Ashton Smith:
Others:
Magazine covers:
:
Imagine :
FAB – The Gerry Anderson Fan Magazine:
Others:
Bands:
Recordings: