Woodblock Prints by Matt Underwood

Born in 1971 British painter and print maker Matt Underwood  was curious about natural history which lead him to draw and keep sketchbooks from an early age. He studied art and art history at Salisbury College of Art and then went to Carmarthenshire College of Art to study wildlife illustration, completing his Higher National Diploma in illustration with a distinction. 

After completing college Matt began his career as a painter with landscape and still life being main subjects of his work.

"Matt finds that it is often a tiny piece of information, which may trigger an idea for a work – seeing an animal or bird in an unusual location, or a blink sketch of swifts. The challenge for him is to convey his enthusiasm for the subject and capture the feeling of seeing something for the first time."

Working without a printing press Matt creates eye-catching woodblock prints using Japanese woodblock printing technique that uses a bamboo baren, a baren is a round flat disc covered traditionally with a dried leaf. I love the grainy texture and the fusion of soft combined with bright colors in his beautiful owls and birds.

Matt has exhibited his work at many galleries including: The Medici Gallery, The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, The Llewellyn Alexander Gallery, The Royal West of England Academy of Art and The Mall Gallery. He is a member of the Society of Wildlife Artists that aims to generate appreciation for the natural world and awareness of the importance of its conservation through some the world's best wildlife and nature artists.

You can see more of his woodblock prints and paintings on his website. Visit his online store for his limited edition prints.