In this talk, illustrator Matthew Rice shares insights into the important role that drawing plays in his work. The talk features an account of Rice’s early life, a live demonstration and a watercolour activity, offering audiences insight into Rice’s observational approach to drawing, architecture, food and flowers. He discusses a childhood surrounded by the arts, the influence of his teachers in the development of his artistic voice, and the expressive potential of watercolour. In the second half of the workshop, Rice works through his drawing and painting process with the audience, producing an original work as he talks about his unique relationship to colour.

This talk formed part of our Drawing Weekender, which took place over the 18th and 19th of July 2026 in collaboration with Hauser & Wirth at their Somerset gallery.

Biography

Matthew Rice is a painter, illustrator and writer. Flowers, animals, gardens. and buildings are his principal subject and his work is always observational, wherever possible drawing from life. Using watercolour, pen and ink, and heavy watercolour paper, Matthew uses bright colour and simple composition. For 30 years he has produced designs for Emma Bridgewater pottery, his mugs have been produced in millions and are used worldwide. He has published 10 books with two more to be published soon. Some are about architecture and others focus on a particular place: Rome, Oxford, Norfolk, Stoke and his particular favourite and frequent destination, Venice.

As an only child he found a lot of time to draw and learnt much from his father, a set and costume designer and his mother, a textile designer. He later went to Chelsea and the Central school of Art in London. Matthew lives in the last shred of a castle gatehouse in the country and paints and works in a converted Cotswold stone barn. Gardening is his other passion and the house is surrounded by two acres of brightly coloured flowers and delicious vegetables.