Matt Ponting
Artist Statement and CV

Artist Statement

My work is centred on local discovery and exploration, of nature, heritage and community. I aim to encourage people to see their local area afresh in a positive and to improve their physical and mental health. My work examines urban spaces, and how they entwine with the history, natural world and local community. I draw and paint in uplifting bright colours.

Through local workshops, I encourage the community to reflect on the area - to give them the space to notice the shapes, colour and details of the urban landscape in their neighbourhood that they may not have focussed on before, and integrate these into the final artwork, as well as documenting the responses as archive.

I combine research and sketching, with these themes to give the essence of what make a location so unique and exciting to be in.

Recent public work in 2022-2023

  • Public art design for Covid Memorial Park - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-65162237

  • Greenway pollinator trail - workshops, planting and illustration and design of four interpretation boards for key pollinator trail feature areas

  • East Ham Nature reserve – New identity

  • Poplar Chrisp Street fold out map

  • Map commissioned for DLR showing locations of places to get ingredient from around the world around the network

  • Design and painting of a set of pavement murals to discourage flytipping in East Ham

  • Nature and community themed lamppost banners in Royal Albert Wharf 

  • Family-suitable trail map design for sustainability festival in the Royal Docks

  • Green School Gates – Project to make two school entrances in Silvertown greener, involved school classes, planting and co-designed planters and furniture 

Exhibitions

  • Doodling The Docks, Royal Docks, London (2019)

  • Lions of Windsor Art Trail (2019)

  • 1000 passions, Limehouse, London (2017)

Artist-led workshops

  • “Sketch and Stroll” walk, UP Projects

  • Greening and mapping workshop, Ilford

  • Collage workshop, East Ham Nature Reserve

  • Visual scribing, Arbeit Studios, Leyton

  • Collage workshop, Stratford

  • Royal Docks drawing workshop

  • Drawing workshops, Make Escape event, Hackney Attic Virtual workshop, Greater London Assembly

  • After school club, Royal Docks Learning & Activity Centre (RDLAC)

Other relevant experience

  • Bow Arts trained arts educator, with weekly visits of primary schools (SEND and non-SEND) in Tower Hamlets and Southwark

  • National Park City volunteer park ranger

  • Arts Award trained moderator and facilitator

  • Trained sign painter

  • Enhanced DRB checked with public liability insurance

Products

  • Ravensburger jigsaw

  • Tower Bridge – Variety of London products

  • National Gallery – Chocolates, stickers, and stationary

  • Fenwick – Commissioned poster and Christmas decorations

Campaigns

  • Bean and Gone, Oxford City Council

  • Loop.gl, London wide billboard campaign

Enhanced DRB checked with public liability insurance.