Matt Herring's sensual female portraiture explores the relationship between the human form and the natural world in a breath-taking blend of antiquity and modernity. Focusing on the inherent beauty of the feminine, he ornaments his portraiture with contemporary elements such as tattoos, alongside Victorian botanical and naturalist illustrations and found objects from the natural world. By creating this juxtaposition between past and present and employing avant-garde technique with vintage materials, he creates something which is authentic yet surreal, and stylistically unique.  

 

His stunning portraits are collage with mixed media and include spray paint, gold leaf, and, he says, 'a pinch of pop art'. His intention is to convey the strength and power of his subjects as well as giving his personal interpretation of beauty, balance and harmony to imbue these women with the status of modern-day goddesses. Matt's work is widely collected and has been displayed in venues as diverse as independent galleries, London Underground stations, Bollywood film theatres and the Royal Albert Hall.  

 

Commissions have come from the BBC, The National Theatre, and Guy Ritchie's production team; Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli owns a huge portrait of himself that Matt created for the British Academy exhibition at the Guardian Newspaper. Of 2,500 Time Out covers published since 1968, one of Matt's, celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, was included in the top 50 and hung in the 50 Years 50 Covers exhibition in the London Brand Museum alongside works from Banksy and Tracey Emin, as well as being featured in the accompanying book.