Diana Matthews FRSA

Diana Matthews was born in Guildford, Surrey in 1935.  Her earliest childhood memory is being praised for a picture she had painted, and a desire to paint was encouraged at school, and formalised when she was accepted to the Bath Academy of Art on their teacher's course in 1954.

The Academy's aim was to develop a new approach to art teacher training, and it's founders, Clifford and Rosemary Ellis developed the academy to provide much needed art teachers, and to give employment to artists shortly after the Second World War. Notable academicians and teachers included Sir Terry Frost, William Scott, Peter Potworowski, Peter Lanyon and Bernard Meadows.

Diana went on to teach art in various schools settling as the head mistress of Acton Reynald Girls Independent School for nearly 20 years. During that time she was awarded a Fellowship at the Royal Society of Art, and after her retirement went on to exhibit her work at Christies in London, The Royal West of England Academy, The Royal Society of British Artists, The Clifton Art Society, and The Bath Society of Art.

Diana feels privileged to have learnt her skill at The Bath Academy of Art as the learning process was based on making  "happy and unexpected serendipitous discoveries". Her experience there was "magical and life changing", and has certainly encouraged an original and accomplished talent to arise.

Diana's Still Life are pared down to minimalism to provide a very still and tranquil experience. Working from actual objects, Diana selects only what is of intrinsic value giving great charm to her chosen study.

Her abstracts are based on music, free from actual symbols, and evoke feelings inspired by listening to classical music. These pictures seem to enter into a world outside visual experience and demonstrate all the sophisticated understanding of an accomplished artist.

Recent exhibitions include:

2008      Royal West of England Academy

Friends of Royal West of England Academy

2007      Royal Society of British Artists

Royal West of England Academy

Bath Society of Art

2006      Clifton Art Society.

Bath Society of Art

Friends of Royal West of England Academy

2005      Bath Society of Art

2002      Equestrian Artists Society.  Christies London