Born in Blaina, a small mining village in South Wales 1964, Maggie Matthews studied Fine Art at Newport College of Art and Design followed by a degree at Exeter Art College and in 1988 moved to St Just where she lives with her daughter.

Harbouring a strong interest in abstraction since the early years of her painting career, Maggie works outdoors, drawing rapidly in an attempt to capture the essence of the scene, the force of a gale or the intensity of sunlight.

Her work is informed by these atmospheric conditions specific to Cornwall, and on her return to the studio she engages in a process of simplification, honing down to the essential aspects of line and evocative colour.

Exhibiting extensively throughout Britain, Maggie is successfully represented by a number of private galleries, and supplies a number of commercial enterprises in London. In 1998 she received a commission - the production of a painted panel spanning twelve feet, for the reception area of the new Cardiff offices of influential architectural engineers Ove Arup & Partners.

“This new exhibition features the natural forms and colours of the Cornish landscape. My ideas are developed from first hand observation, experience, inspiration and imagination. In particular I’ve introduced the soft greys of the lichen covered granite. Combined with the abundant selection of botanical shapes to be found in our subtropical gardens and pebbles and shells from the tidelines of our pristine beaches. As the seasons change there is always something new to see.

“My work is an expression of my connection to the natural world and its continuing cycles of birth, growth, death, decay, and renewal. The paintings have deep roots in Cornwall’s natural environment”.