Exhibition celebrates Campervan anniversary

MATT Wilde lives something of a double life.

When the Penketh resident is not working as a warehouseman at Ikea he exhibits and sells paintings that hang in homes all around the world.

Artist Matt works shifts at Ikea to tide his family over in between sales and commissions.

But he has work exhibited in London, Manchester, Cornwall and Liverpool and in private collections in the United States, Germany, Greece, Dubai and Saudi Arabia.

Now Matt is going full circle by exhibiting art at View Two gallery in Liverpool after owner Professor Ken Martin gave him his first solo exhibition there in 1999.

The collection, called ‘Still Life in the...’, celebrates the 65th anniversary of the Volkswagen Campervan while reflecting on the recession.

During six decades, the iconic vehicle was loved by globetrotters, hippies and pop groups and more than 3.5million were built between 1950 and December 2013 when the final batch rolled off a production line in Brazil.

Matt, a former plumber and heating engineer, said: “The originals are still sought after by enthusiasts.

“They are a great example of something that still has plenty of life, a perfect illustration of life after the recession.

“You spot one left to rot in an old barn or garage and somebody will want to love and restore it to its former glory.”

Matt found his artistic – and rebellious – side at St Gregory’s RC High School when he painted record covers in art class.

“They were loved by all the students but frowned upon by the teachers,” the 43-year-old added.

“We were supposed to draw tubes of toothpaste and reflections in spoons but that didn’t interest me so my work was exhibited far from public view.

“You have to be a bit strong minded and rebellious to do what I do.”

Matt, who was recently commissioned to do a painting of Ian Brown for a Manchester couple, returned to the world of art when he was 23.

He completed a foundation course at Padgate College and then did a degree in fine art at Liverpool John Moores University.

Matt’s work is inspired by everyday urban life, daily commutes and consumerism.

The dad-of-four said: “Whenever I’m travelling I see things I want to paint and new ideas. It might be my surroundings or what I think about when getting from A to B in a crowd.

“A lot of it is queues of people, traffic and consumerism but there’s always a humorous edge to it.

“It can also be inspired by what’s happening in my life at the time. For example, my children turn up in the background of a lot of my paintings.”

Matt’s first exhibition at View Two was called ‘Shop ‘Til You Drop’ in 1999.

The sell-out show was a statement on consumerism and mostly involved artwork created on top of receipts and newspaper cuttings. Two of them sold to contemporary property developers, Urban Splash.

Matt works in a garage converted into a studio at his Penketh home and has ambitions to become a teacher after graduating with a PGCE teaching certificate at Edge Hill University.

But he told Weekend he still gets a kick every time someone buys his work.

“It’s quite surreal really,” he added.

“Even in the early days people in America and Germany were buying my work. It’s pretty cool.

“I still get a buzz out of it and it motivates me to keep going.”

DAVID MORGAN

* Matt Wilde’s work can be viewed for free at View Two in Mathew Street, Liverpool on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from noon until 5pm.