The Rodney Matthews Portfolio

by Rodney Matthews

Book by Matthews, Rodney

1 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1991

About the author

Rodney Matthews is an internationally acclaimed illustrator and conceptual designer of fantasy and science fiction. Born in 1945, in Paulton, England, his distinctive style gained prominence in the 1970s with his poster art which sold in millions worldwide. His rich vision, characterised by lavish landscapes, ethereal cities, strange creatures and mammoth machinery, became the face of both the music and literature of the era. He has illustrated over 140 album covers for influential rock bands, such as Thin Lizzy, Asia and Rick Wakeman, while also becoming a favourite in the genre of speculative fiction, notably with science fiction and fantasy writer, Michael Moorcock.

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, being given free rein to create and design the children’s TV series ‘Lavender Castle’ for Gerry Anderson. These days he works mainly on his own intellectual properties, which includes a sequel to his multi-award-winning animation, ‘Yendor – The Journey of a Junior Adventurer’, and further tales of Oddney’s Otherland. Matthews is also a talented musician and is recording his next album.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I will admit to start with this is a short book - but I use this site to keep tabs on what I have read and want to read so I wanted to add it in all the same.

I am not sure why the details do not show up all that well for this book - and it is a book, all I can think of is that because Papertiger (yes its another one of theirs) is now no more that the titles have been deleted or never loaded in to GR. However I can say it is an over sized portfolio book showing some of the the best work of Rodney Matthews - I will admit that last statement is a bit arbitrary since one persons choice is many not the next persons but they are pretty impressive. The quality of the print the sheer size of it and the fact that it is on heavy gauge paper (the series of Portfolios where designed to be dismantled if wanted and turned in to frame-able posters) meant that even pictures I have seen before take on a new lease of life and make me stop and pay attention.

In short my praise for the Paper tiger line of books does not stop - nor sadly does the lament that they are no more. What I can say is that I am always over joyed when I find another to add to the collection - and this is most certainly worthy of adding.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love his style. I didn't realise he converted to Christianity in 1980 and so after this everything goes a bit religious. My favourite Greek mythology book has my favourite illustrations of his in. Some of the inclusions in this portfolio are too creepy with floaty God heads and stuff.