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Such is the cliche, but cancer changed Matthew's life. He would probably still be working in advertising had he not been told five years ago that, by now, he would most likely be dead. But then, this has been a reoccurring theme in Matthew's life: when touched by adversity, every major hurdle ultimately triggered a new life phase, each building upon the foundations of the proceeding. It's a path that reads like fiction.
He has had multiple careers, and in each, rapidly managed to find his niche. His first was transformed before it had barely begun. Having painted as a teenager, he was one of the youngest students to study art at the University of South Australia and by the end of the third year had his first book published. To expand his scope beyond Adelaide, during his final year he travelled to Melbourne, visiting galleries, publishers & designers - anyone who would spare time to talk. There he discovered that artists are rarely employed and thereby miss the opportunity to work on large scale projects. To counter this, he began a new direction concentrating on design and photography, and in six months completed the extra years of study required for both painting and design qualifications.
The effort paid off upon returning to Melbourne at the end of the year, where he was offered employment in 14 studios, including one of the most respected, Emery Vincent. There he began working for such major Australia corporations as Rio Tinto, Fosters & BHP. Within weeks he was creating the acclaimed curved "super-murals" for the Queensland Newspapers Pavilion at the Brisbane International Expo.
This career took him to Sydney and, ultimately, Europe, where it was abruptly halted by the recession of the early 1990's. Stuck in London with no work, rather than taking a sensible option of unskilled labour, he began writing fiction. At 24 his first novel, "Of Gods and Monsters," was selected as a finalist for the Australian/Vogel Literary Award, judged by the Booker Prize winning author of Schlinder's List, Thomas Keneally.
Needing to make a living once again, he accepted a position with an advertising agency servicing clients in Asia. This eventually led to Matthew moving to Malaysia - but for that to happen, three most unlikely events were required. Firstly, Matthew became acquainted with the families of the Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir, and the deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Dato Musa Hitam. Then Matthew was unceremoniously fired (so his position could be given to the owner's newly graduated daughter). Next, Musa's son Carlos was killed in the collapse, during severe monsoonal storms, of the massive Highland Towers apartment complex - which finally led to Musa inviting Matthew to move to Malaysia and run Carlos' design & publishing business.
These experiences, particularly Matthew's exposure to the inner-circle of politics during the Machiavellian twilight years of Dr Mahathir's rule, gave him the material for his next book, "Fallen Idols". More importantly, it was only through these otherwise tragic circumstances that he came to meet his wife, Yan Yan.
Back in Australia he toiled on the new manuscript, supporting himself by lecturing part-time at Victoria University. At the same time he also established an advertising agency and built a stable of clients ranging from hotels to cosmetics and fashion. And then everything changed. At the age of 35 he was diagnosed with cancer and informed he may only have a few years. This catalysed a return to his first love - painting.
Conscious that the clock was ticking but nonetheless wanting to do things right, he spent the first couple of years doing intensive drawing before again picking up brushes. When first showing his work to leading galleries, the welcome was not warm as no one wanted to take a risk on an unknown artist with only a few years of painting experience. Eventually he found representation and in 2007 held a major solo show, "Lost Souls." The paintings sold well, with pieces selected for the Aitken Hill corporate collection, to be displayed alongside the likes of John Olsen and Cherry Hood.
Having entered the Archibald Prize on four occasions, each time he has been fortunate to be selected for the Salon des Refuses. Recently his portrait of Wil Anderson was also selected for the 2009 Black Swan Portraiture Prize. He is now cancer-free and painting full time.
