Sketchbooks, Robots and Accidental Worlds: Meet Matt Dixon

There is something unexpectedly human about the robots in Matt Dixon’s artwork, quiet, weathered figures who seem to carry whole stories behind their glowing eyes and rusted edges. But these characters did not begin as part of some grand plan. In fact, much of Matt’s creative world has grown from instinct, curiosity, and the simple joy of sketching.

Based in Shropshire, Matt is a self-taught artist with a background in the games industry and a lifelong love of drawing. His studio days are built on routine, good music, and a healthy respect for the creative process, even when ideas behave like cats.

A Lifelong Love of Drawing

For Matt, making pictures has always been second nature. “A blank sheet of paper has always excited me in a way that little else can,” he says. That quiet thrill has followed him since childhood. Straight out of school, Matt entered the games industry, but it took years before he began to find a creative voice that felt truly his own.

His personal work started around twenty years ago, and since then, he’s built a distinctive world filled with weathered, soulful robots that seem to carry stories beneath their rusty exteriors.

The Creative Process

Matt is entirely self-taught. His favourite medium is pen and paper, particularly sketchbooks, which he describes as “a place of total freedom, where all thoughts and ideas are welcome.”

While his paintings are created digitally, he enjoys the medium for its flexibility – an almost endless variety of marks and the freedom to experiment without limits.

As for where the ideas come from? “They have much in common with cats,” he says. “They never come when called, often appear as an unexpected trip hazard, and spend a lot of time asleep.” He’s learned not to chase inspiration – instead, he lets it find him, often while out walking.

Robots and a World of Their Own

One of the most significant turning points in Matt’s career came unexpectedly. “When I began to paint robots, I had no sensation that they were connected,” he explains. “But after several years, I noticed they all seemed to inhabit the same space.”

That realisation changed everything. He had, without meaning to, started building a world – a rich and atmospheric space where his quiet, expressive characters lived. That world has continued to grow, one sketch and digital painting at a time, and has become central to his creative identity.

Studio Life and Routine

Matt works from a home studio in Shropshire, following a carefully structured daily routine. “An organised day with a familiar, predictable rhythm helps to minimise distraction,” he says.

His ideal creative day? Breakfast and a walk, followed by painting until lunch. Then more painting until dinner, time with his wife, and sleep. “Bliss.”

He keeps regular office hours and always works with music – “a cocoon of appropriate sound in my headphones” that helps him focus. The playlist changes depending on the mood he wants for the piece, and could include almost anything.

Whether you’re drawn to Matt’s melancholic metal characters or inspired by his disciplined, creative life, there’s something quietly powerful about his work.

Want to see more? You can find Matt online at:

🌐 Website: www.mattdixon.co.uk

📸 Instagram: @mattdixonart

📘 Facebook: Art of Matt Dixon