Personal statement

Matthew Murray is an award-winning artist using photography as his chosen medium. With over 30 years of industry experience within publishing, exhibitions, advertising, editorials and commissions from a variety of leading editorials and high-end global advertising agencies.

Advertising clients include Saatchi & Saatchi, M&C Saatchi, TBWA, VCCP, Leo Burnett, FALLON, Ogilvy, BMB, Lowe Worldwide, BBDO/CLM, H5, BWM and McCann Erickson London.

His work is included in the permanent collections at the Victoria & Albert Museum (London), The Martin Parr Foundation (Bristol), The Royal Library of the Netherlands, The Hague and private collections.

Matthew’s personal work is represented by ElliottHalls Gallery, Amsterdam, which is one of Europe’s leading exponents of contemporary art photography.

His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally in both solo and group exhibitions including Arles Rencontre Arles Festival (France) National Portrait Gallery (London), The New Art Gallery (Walsall), Unseen Amsterdam, The Royal West of England Academy (Bristol), The Photographers’ Gallery Print Room (London), Paris Photo – Le Carrousel Du Loure, ElliottHalls Gallery (Amsterdam) amd Huis Marseille (Amsterdam).

Academic qualifications

  • PhD Photography, University of Gloucestershire, 2025
  • PGCAP, Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice, University of Gloucestershire, 2015
  • MA Visual Communication (Pass with distinction), Birmingham City University, 1998.

Professional memberships

  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • Association of Photographers'.

Areas of teaching and expertise

  • Photography
  • Exhibitions
  • Publishing
  • Curation
  • Art Direction
  • Editorial
  • Advertising
  • Portfolios.

When teaching I'm open minded, adaptable, practical, embrace creative ideas, encourage freethinking amongst students, and encourage engagement within the group. I promote the importance of research and experimentation within set photography briefs and students' personal work.