Matthew Richardson

Advertising and promotion for the Poetry Society

The society was founded in London in 1909 for purposes of promoting the study, use and enjoyment of poetry

One from a series of illustrations fopr an article about the artificiality of cryptocurrencies

'The Writer'

One in a series of four artworks for the packaging of ATK Colognes new fragrances

One in a series of four artworks for the packaging of ATK Colognes new fragrances

One in a series of four artworks for the packaging of ATK Colognes new fragrances

One in a series of four artworks for the packaging of ATK Colognes new fragrances

Artwork from ‘Aftershocks’ published by The Economist. A print and digital publication predicting the year ahead written by a range of researchers, scientists, politicians and thinkers about a post-crisis world

‘Good: The sense of an archive’ is a perfect bound 104 page book and the culmination of a project with the Iris Murdoch Archive as a way to bring alive unseen material that the archive has in its collection.

The project began with Matthew’s discovery of some incomplete notes written by Iris Murdoch in the back pages of The Outsider by Colin Wilson. The notes were Iris Murdoch’s first thoughts for a novel that became The Bell. This became the starting point for connecting and combining two writers and two narrative worlds, using the form of an illustrated book to play in the spaces between reading and seeing, and words and images.

‘Good: The sense of an archive’ is a perfect bound 104 page book and the culmination of a project with the Iris Murdoch Archive as a way to bring alive unseen material that the archive has in its collection.

The project began with Matthew’s discovery of some incomplete notes written by Iris Murdoch in the back pages of The Outsider by Colin Wilson. The notes were Iris Murdoch’s first thoughts for a novel that became The Bell. This became the starting point for connecting and combining two writers and two narrative worlds, using the form of an illustrated book to play in the spaces between reading and seeing, and words and images.

‘Good: The sense of an archive’ is a perfect bound 104 page book and the culmination of a project with the Iris Murdoch Archive as a way to bring alive unseen material that the archive has in its collection.

The project began with Matthew’s discovery of some incomplete notes written by Iris Murdoch in the back pages of The Outsider by Colin Wilson. The notes were Iris Murdoch’s first thoughts for a novel that became The Bell. This became the starting point for connecting and combining two writers and two narrative worlds, using the form of an illustrated book to play in the spaces between reading and seeing, and words and images.

‘Good: The sense of an archive’ is a perfect bound 104 page book and the culmination of a project with the Iris Murdoch Archive as a way to bring alive unseen material that the archive has in its collection.

The project began with Matthew’s discovery of some incomplete notes written by Iris Murdoch in the back pages of The Outsider by Colin Wilson. The notes were Iris Murdoch’s first thoughts for a novel that became The Bell. This became the starting point for connecting and combining two writers and two narrative worlds, using the form of an illustrated book to play in the spaces between reading and seeing, and words and images.

‘Good: The sense of an archive’ is a perfect bound 104 page book and the culmination of a project with the Iris Murdoch Archive as a way to bring alive unseen material that the archive has in its collection.

The project began with Matthew’s discovery of some incomplete notes written by Iris Murdoch in the back pages of The Outsider by Colin Wilson. The notes were Iris Murdoch’s first thoughts for a novel that became The Bell. This became the starting point for connecting and combining two writers and two narrative worlds, using the form of an illustrated book to play in the spaces between reading and seeing, and words and images.

‘Good: The sense of an archive’ is a perfect bound 104 page book and the culmination of a project with the Iris Murdoch Archive as a way to bring alive unseen material that the archive has in its collection.

The project began with Matthew’s discovery of some incomplete notes written by Iris Murdoch in the back pages of The Outsider by Colin Wilson. The notes were Iris Murdoch’s first thoughts for a novel that became The Bell. This became the starting point for connecting and combining two writers and two narrative worlds, using the form of an illustrated book to play in the spaces between reading and seeing, and words and images.

‘Good: The sense of an archive’ is a perfect bound 104 page book and the culmination of a project with the Iris Murdoch Archive as a way to bring alive unseen material that the archive has in its collection.

The project began with Matthew’s discovery of some incomplete notes written by Iris Murdoch in the back pages of The Outsider by Colin Wilson. The notes were Iris Murdoch’s first thoughts for a novel that became The Bell. This became the starting point for connecting and combining two writers and two narrative worlds, using the form of an illustrated book to play in the spaces between reading and seeing, and words and images.

‘Good: The sense of an archive’ is a perfect bound 104 page book and the culmination of a project with the Iris Murdoch Archive as a way to bring alive unseen material that the archive has in its collection.

The project began with Matthew’s discovery of some incomplete notes written by Iris Murdoch in the back pages of The Outsider by Colin Wilson. The notes were Iris Murdoch’s first thoughts for a novel that became The Bell. This became the starting point for connecting and combining two writers and two narrative worlds, using the form of an illustrated book to play in the spaces between reading and seeing, and words and images.

‘Good: The sense of an archive’ is a perfect bound 104 page book and the culmination of a project with the Iris Murdoch Archive as a way to bring alive unseen material that the archive has in its collection.

The project began with Matthew’s discovery of some incomplete notes written by Iris Murdoch in the back pages of The Outsider by Colin Wilson. The notes were Iris Murdoch’s first thoughts for a novel that became The Bell. This became the starting point for connecting and combining two writers and two narrative worlds, using the form of an illustrated book to play in the spaces between reading and seeing, and words and images.

‘Good: The sense of an archive’ is a perfect bound 104 page book and the culmination of a project with the Iris Murdoch Archive as a way to bring alive unseen material that the archive has in its collection.

The project began with Matthew’s discovery of some incomplete notes written by Iris Murdoch in the back pages of The Outsider by Colin Wilson. The notes were Iris Murdoch’s first thoughts for a novel that became The Bell. This became the starting point for connecting and combining two writers and two narrative worlds, using the form of an illustrated book to play in the spaces between reading and seeing, and words and images.

‘Good: The sense of an archive’ is a perfect bound 104 page book and the culmination of a project with the Iris Murdoch Archive as a way to bring alive unseen material that the archive has in its collection.

The project began with Matthew’s discovery of some incomplete notes written by Iris Murdoch in the back pages of The Outsider by Colin Wilson. The notes were Iris Murdoch’s first thoughts for a novel that became The Bell. This became the starting point for connecting and combining two writers and two narrative worlds, using the form of an illustrated book to play in the spaces between reading and seeing, and words and images.

‘Good: The sense of an archive’ is a perfect bound 104 page book and the culmination of a project with the Iris Murdoch Archive as a way to bring alive unseen material that the archive has in its collection.

The project began with Matthew’s discovery of some incomplete notes written by Iris Murdoch in the back pages of The Outsider by Colin Wilson. The notes were Iris Murdoch’s first thoughts for a novel that became The Bell. This became the starting point for connecting and combining two writers and two narrative worlds, using the form of an illustrated book to play in the spaces between reading and seeing, and words and images.

‘The Antitrust Revolution’ 

Illustrating an essay by Barry C. Lynn, in which the autocratic reign of King James is compared to the actions of Trump and Big Tech companies operating today which threaten to erode our liberal democracy

‘The Antitrust Revolution’

Illustrating an essay by Barry C. Lynn, in which the autocratic reign of King James is compared to the actions of Trump and Big Tech companies operating today which threaten to erode our liberal democracy

‘The Antitrust Revolution’

Illustrating an essay by Barry C. Lynn, in which the autocratic reign of King James is compared to the actions of Trump and Big Tech companies operating today which threaten to erode our liberal democracy

Illustrating an article about the hi res scanning of old masters to preserve them digitally at a particular point in time, as the original slowly disappears

Animation

Personal Work

From a series describing various contemporary research projects. This illustration is about research into the molecular basis of human evolution which uses yeast as a way to study evolution in real-time

Artwork from a regular haiku column in Tricycle, the magazine for the Buddhist Review

barefoot on the sand

pain from a splinter

lingers long after it's been pulled

by Jackie Chou

Artwork from a regular haiku column in Tricycle, the magazine for the Buddhist Review

a problem of shape

the human life, long, narrow

like a dragonfly

by Mariya Gusev

Artwork from a regular haiku column in Tricycle, the magazine for the Buddhist Review

the easing of grief

a stone beneath the cypress

becomes a small frog

by Lynne Rees

One in a series of posters, in a long running commission for the V&A Museum, to advertise and promote their exhibitions, events and workshops

One in a series of posters, in a long running commission for the V&A Museum, to advertise and promote their exhibitions, events and workshops

One in a series of posters, in a long running commission for the V&A Museum, to advertise and promote their exhibitions, events and workshops

One in a series of posters, in a long running commission for the V&A Museum, to advertise and promote their exhibitions, events and workshops

One in a series of posters, in a long running commission for the V&A Museum, to advertise and promote their exhibitions, events and workshops

One in a series of posters, in a long running commission for the V&A Museum, to advertise and promote their exhibitions, events and workshops

Illustrating an article about the devastating effect of the introduction of Japanese Knotweed into Wales by a Victorian collector

Outdoor advertising and programme cover for the London Colesium's production of Prince Igor

Illustrating a short story ‘Hardanger’ written by Alison Moore

Animated cover for the Association of Illustrators magazine ‘Varoom’

Artwork from a series about refining and developing existing inventions. In this case, the bicycle

Artworks for the British Library's ‘Discovering Literature’ microsite. The project brings to life the social, political and cultural context in which key works of literature have been written. The site shows digitised manuscripts, notebooks and personal items from the British Library collection, along with articles, short documentary films and teacher's notes

Angela Carter: The Fairytale Queen

Artworks for the British Library's ‘Discovering Literature’ microsite. The project brings to life the social, political and cultural context in which key works of literature have been written. The site shows digitised manuscripts, notebooks and personal items from the British Library collection, along with articles, short documentary films and teacher's notes

Hanif Kureishi: The Buddha of Suburbia
 

Artworks for the British Library's ‘Discovering Literature’ microsite. The project brings to life the social, political and cultural context in which key works of literature have been written. The site shows digitised manuscripts, notebooks and personal items from the British Library collection, along with articles, short documentary films and teacher's notes

Sylvia Plath: Lady Lazarus
 

Artworks for the British Library's ‘Discovering Literature’ microsite. The project brings to life the social, political and cultural context in which key works of literature have been written. The site shows digitised manuscripts, notebooks and personal items from the British Library collection, along with articles, short documentary films and teacher's notes

Shakespeare and Sexuality

Artworks for the British Library's ‘Discovering Literature’ microsite. The project brings to life the social, political and cultural context in which key works of literature have been written. The site shows digitised manuscripts, notebooks and personal items from the British Library collection, along with articles, short documentary films and teacher's notes

Shakespeare's First Folio
 

Animation created using the artworks that appear in The Folio Society's edition of 'In Praise of Folly'

Binding for 'In Praise of Folly', illustrated edition published by The Folio Society

In Praise of Folly is a satire written in the 16th Century by Desiderius Erasmus, the humanist reformer and social critic. It’s a mix of social observation and parody narrated through the persona of ‘Folly’ a jester-like goddess celebrating frivolity, inebriation and self love. Erasmus uses the character of ‘Folly; as a mask from behind which he attacks the social normals of his day. Even at his most biting, Erasmus’ writing is animated by warm and lively wit

Spread from 'In Praise of Folly', illustrated edition published by The Folio Society

In Praise of Folly is a satire written in the 16th Century by Desiderius Erasmus, the humanist reformer and social critic. It’s a mix of social observation and parody narrated through the persona of ‘Folly’ a jester-like goddess celebrating frivolity, inebriation and self love. Erasmus uses the character of ‘Folly; as a mask from behind which he attacks the social normals of his day. Even at his most biting, Erasmus’ writing is animated by warm and lively wit

Spread from 'In Praise of Folly', illustrated edition published by The Folio Society

In Praise of Folly is a satire written in the 16th Century by Desiderius Erasmus, the humanist reformer and social critic. It’s a mix of social observation and parody narrated through the persona of ‘Folly’ a jester-like goddess celebrating frivolity, inebriation and self love. Erasmus uses the character of ‘Folly; as a mask from behind which he attacks the social normals of his day. Even at his most biting, Erasmus’ writing is animated by warm and lively wit

Artwork from 'In Praise of Folly', illustrated edition published by The Folio Society

In Praise of Folly is a satire written in the 16th Century by Desiderius Erasmus, the humanist reformer and social critic. It’s a mix of social observation and parody narrated through the persona of ‘Folly’ a jester-like goddess celebrating frivolity, inebriation and self love. Erasmus uses the character of ‘Folly; as a mask from behind which he attacks the social normals of his day. Even at his most biting, Erasmus’ writing is animated by warm and lively wit

Fully illustrated issue of 'The Cultural Acupuncturist', a publication produced by The Seeking State, a consultancy that helps clients redefine how they engage with culture.

The artworks illustrate articles on the theme of 'collaboration'. The cover uses elements from each of the internal artworks

Fully illustrated issue of 'The Cultural Acupuncturist', a publication produced by The Seeking State, a consultancy that helps clients redefine how they engage with culture.

The artworks illustrate articles on the theme of 'collaboration'

Fully illustrated issue of 'The Cultural Acupuncturist', a publication produced by The Seeking State, a consultancy that helps clients redefine how they engage with culture.

Animation created for one of the articles on the theme of 'collaboration'

'A conversation through objects, collage and play' between Matthew Richardson and fellow Heart Artist, Shonagh Rae, creating a collaborative artwork for Heart's publication 'Conversations'

Internal artworks for ‘Speeches of Note’, published by Hutchinson, The book is an eclectic collection of the world’s greatest speeches compiled by Shaun Usher. While some speeches were heard by millions, some remain hidden and unspoken, such as President Nixon’s chilling public announcement should Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become stranded on the Moon

Matthew illustrated some of the speeches for the book including Tilda Swinton’s tribute to ‘every alien’s favourite cousin’, David Bowie; African-American abolitionist, Frederick Douglass’ speech to the Rochester Anti-Slavery Society, and the maiden Parliamentary speech by Mhairi Black, Britain’s youngest MP since 1667, lambasting the Conservative government’s treatment of the country’s poorest

Artwork shown: Wamsutta Frank B. James ‘Our Spirit refuses to die’

Internal artworks for ‘Speeches of Note’, published by Hutchinson, The book is an eclectic collection of the world’s greatest speeches compiled by Shaun Usher. While some speeches were heard by millions, some remain hidden and unspoken, such as President Nixon’s chilling public announcement should Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become stranded on the Moon

Matthew illustrated some of the speeches for the book including Tilda Swinton’s tribute to ‘every alien’s favourite cousin’, David Bowie; African-American abolitionist, Frederick Douglass’ speech to the Rochester Anti-Slavery Society, and the maiden Parliamentary speech by Mhairi Black, Britain’s youngest MP since 1667, lambasting the Conservative government’s treatment of the country’s poorest

Artwork shown: African-American abolitionist, Frederick Douglass’ speech to the Rochester Anti-Slavery Society

Internal artworks for ‘Speeches of Note’, published by Hutchinson, The book is an eclectic collection of the world’s greatest speeches compiled by Shaun Usher. While some speeches were heard by millions, some remain hidden and unspoken, such as President Nixon’s chilling public announcement should Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become stranded on the Moon

Matthew illustrated some of the speeches for the book including Tilda Swinton’s tribute to ‘every alien’s favourite cousin’, David Bowie; African-American abolitionist, Frederick Douglass’ speech to the Rochester Anti-Slavery Society, and the maiden Parliamentary speech by Mhairi Black, Britain’s youngest MP since 1667, lambasting the Conservative government’s treatment of the country’s poorest

Artwork shown: William Lyon Phelps, 'The Pleasure of Books'

Internal artworks for ‘Speeches of Note’, published by Hutchinson, The book is an eclectic collection of the world’s greatest speeches compiled by Shaun Usher. While some speeches were heard by millions, some remain hidden and unspoken, such as President Nixon’s chilling public announcement should Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become stranded on the Moon

Matthew illustrated some of the speeches for the book including Tilda Swinton’s tribute to ‘every alien’s favourite cousin’, David Bowie; African-American abolitionist, Frederick Douglass’ speech to the Rochester Anti-Slavery Society, and the maiden Parliamentary speech by Mhairi Black, Britain’s youngest MP since 1667, lambasting the Conservative government’s treatment of the country’s poorest

Internal artworks for ‘Speeches of Note’, published by Hutchinson, The book is an eclectic collection of the world’s greatest speeches compiled by Shaun Usher. While some speeches were heard by millions, some remain hidden and unspoken, such as President Nixon’s chilling public announcement should Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become stranded on the Moon

Matthew illustrated some of the speeches for the book including Tilda Swinton’s tribute to ‘every alien’s favourite cousin’, David Bowie; African-American abolitionist, Frederick Douglass’ speech to the Rochester Anti-Slavery Society, and the maiden Parliamentary speech by Mhairi Black, Britain’s youngest MP since 1667, lambasting the Conservative government’s treatment of the country’s poorest

Artwork shown: Jim Telfer ‘This is your Everest’

Internal artworks for ‘Speeches of Note’, published by Hutchinson, The book is an eclectic collection of the world’s greatest speeches compiled by Shaun Usher. While some speeches were heard by millions, some remain hidden and unspoken, such as President Nixon’s chilling public announcement should Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become stranded on the Moon

Matthew illustrated some of the speeches for the book including Tilda Swinton’s tribute to ‘every alien’s favourite cousin’, David Bowie; African-American abolitionist, Frederick Douglass’ speech to the Rochester Anti-Slavery Society, and the maiden Parliamentary speech by Mhairi Black, Britain’s youngest MP since 1667, lambasting the Conservative government’s treatment of the country’s poorest

Artwork shown: Manal Al Sharif ‘The drive for freedom’

Internal artworks for ‘Speeches of Note’, published by Hutchinson, The book is an eclectic collection of the world’s greatest speeches compiled by Shaun Usher. While some speeches were heard by millions, some remain hidden and unspoken, such as President Nixon’s chilling public announcement should Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become stranded on the Moon

Matthew illustrated some of the speeches for the book including Tilda Swinton’s tribute to ‘every alien’s favourite cousin’, David Bowie; African-American abolitionist, Frederick Douglass’ speech to the Rochester Anti-Slavery Society, and the maiden Parliamentary speech by Mhairi Black, Britain’s youngest MP since 1667, lambasting the Conservative government’s treatment of the country’s poorest

Artwork shown: Terry Prachett ‘Shaking hands with death’

Internal artworks for ‘Speeches of Note’, published by Hutchinson, The book is an eclectic collection of the world’s greatest speeches compiled by Shaun Usher. While some speeches were heard by millions, some remain hidden and unspoken, such as President Nixon’s chilling public announcement should Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become stranded on the Moon

Matthew illustrated some of the speeches for the book including Tilda Swinton’s tribute to ‘every alien’s favourite cousin’, David Bowie; African-American abolitionist, Frederick Douglass’ speech to the Rochester Anti-Slavery Society, and the maiden Parliamentary speech by Mhairi Black, Britain’s youngest MP since 1667, lambasting the Conservative government’s treatment of the country’s poorest

Artwork shown: Tilda Swinton ‘Every alien’s favourite cousin’

Internal artworks for ‘Speeches of Note’, published by Hutchinson, The book is an eclectic collection of the world’s greatest speeches compiled by Shaun Usher. While some speeches were heard by millions, some remain hidden and unspoken, such as President Nixon’s chilling public announcement should Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become stranded on the Moon

Matthew illustrated some of the speeches for the book including Tilda Swinton’s tribute to ‘every alien’s favourite cousin’, David Bowie; African-American abolitionist, Frederick Douglass’ speech to the Rochester Anti-Slavery Society, and the maiden Parliamentary speech by Mhairi Black, Britain’s youngest MP since 1667, lambasting the Conservative government’s treatment of the country’s poorest

Artwork shown: Maurice Williamson ‘Be ye not afraid'

Internal artworks for ‘Speeches of Note’, published by Hutchinson, The book is an eclectic collection of the world’s greatest speeches compiled by Shaun Usher. While some speeches were heard by millions, some remain hidden and unspoken, such as President Nixon’s chilling public announcement should Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin become stranded on the Moon

Matthew illustrated some of the speeches for the book including Tilda Swinton’s tribute to ‘every alien’s favourite cousin’, David Bowie; African-American abolitionist, Frederick Douglass’ speech to the Rochester Anti-Slavery Society, and the maiden Parliamentary speech by Mhairi Black, Britain’s youngest MP since 1667, lambasting the Conservative government’s treatment of the country’s poorest

Artwork shown: Phan Thi Kim Phuc ‘Remember the tragedy of war'

Illustrating an article about the social roots of risk and addiction

Illustrating the space between digital and acoustic sound recording in classical music

Illustrating an article on contemporary ideas around 'the talking cure'

Artworks for ‘Cut, Copy, Remix’ at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Using  portraits from the Birmingham Museum Trust’s Digital Image Resource, Matthew explored what the connection might be between a painted portrait and its digital twin. Material is translated from oil paint to pixels and coded data. The individuals enter the digital realm to be seen, shared and liked. Their poses, personas and clothing coded in the past, now re-coded in the present.

Each new image uses and re-uses only what is contained in the original painting. The re-constructions have an echo in the occupations and preoccupations of the sitters. William Phipson, inventor of a steel roller,  is stretched and flattened, a miniature of G.F Watts, a painter and sculptor becomes a digital sculpture, Sir John Franklin, arctic explorer is pictured through digital shards, and the portrait of surgeon, John Derrington is a dissection of his original portrait.

Artworks for ‘Cut, Copy, Remix’ at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Using  portraits from the Birmingham Museum Trust’s Digital Image Resource, Matthew explored what the connection might be between a painted portrait and its digital twin. Material is translated from oil paint to pixels and coded data. The individuals enter the digital realm to be seen, shared and liked. Their poses, personas and clothing coded in the past, now re-coded in the present.

Each new image uses and re-uses only what is contained in the original painting. The re-constructions have an echo in the occupations and preoccupations of the sitters. William Phipson, inventor of a steel roller,  is stretched and flattened, a miniature of G.F Watts, a painter and sculptor becomes a digital sculpture, Sir John Franklin, arctic explorer is pictured through digital shards, and the portrait of surgeon, John Derrington is a dissection of his original portrait.

Binding for 'The Outsider' by Albert Camus, illustrated edition published by The Folio Society

The Outsider was a shocking assault on traditional mores when first published in 1942. It remains one of the most influential novels of the 20th century; a work of great literary power, in which the physical realities of Meursault’s experiences – the heat, dust and light of Algiers, the coolness of the sea, the longing for a cigarette in prison – contrast with the apparent emptiness of his interior being

Artwork from 'The Outsider' by Albert Camus, illustrated edition published by The Folio Society

The Outsider was a shocking assault on traditional mores when first published in 1942. It remains one of the most influential novels of the 20th century; a work of great literary power, in which the physical realities of Meursault’s experiences – the heat, dust and light of Algiers, the coolness of the sea, the longing for a cigarette in prison – contrast with the apparent emptiness of his interior being

Artwork from 'The Outsider' by Albert Camus, illustrated edition published by The Folio Society

The Outsider was a shocking assault on traditional mores when first published in 1942. It remains one of the most influential novels of the 20th century; a work of great literary power, in which the physical realities of Meursault’s experiences – the heat, dust and light of Algiers, the coolness of the sea, the longing for a cigarette in prison – contrast with the apparent emptiness of his interior being

Cover illustration reflecting the changing winds of investment that can be harnessed and negotiated to thrive and survive. The image was developed as a 3D VR immersive experience

'Notes to Self, Lincoln's private thoughts on fate, slavery and belief'

The illustration reflects the fragmentary way in which Lincoln made and kept notes, reflections and ruminations which he wrote on little slips of paper, sometimes on the backs of envelopes. He saved these notes in the drawers of his desk, among his other papers and even in his top hat

An illustration from a series titled 'Practical Ethics'

'Why should I give up meat when, in the grand scheme of things, it makes virtually no difference at all?'

The article discusses the fact that conversations about the ethic of eating are rarely well-received

An illoustration to accompany 'Stranger Things - Gloves' an essay by Ann Wroe written during covid. 

"Gloves are the only answer to all this fretting. The government seems not to notice them, but perhaps it should. I take a limp plastic article, already damp, our of my bag, and wrestle it on."w