An interview with Matt Sewell

The artist, author and keen ornithologist on saving and illustrating our birds

This interview was originally published in issue 32 of The Procrastination Paper in 2021 - a mini mag I used to produce. Matt’s kindly given his permission for me to share it here too. I’m so pleased to be able to spread the word about his brilliant work…

Hey Matt! Tell us about your latest book, Save Our Birds. What birds may some people be surprised to find in the book?

When I saw the the recently announced red list of British endangered birds I couldn't quite believe some of the names I saw coming up. It wasn't all lesser variants and rare migrants, these where household names - starlings, nightingale, skylarks and house sparrows. I was gutted and knew instantly I needed to do something to bring attention to some of our favourite bird’s plights.

Early on in my research it became evident that much of what is causing wide spread harm to our birdlife can be summed up with the term ‘habitat loss’ - that being agricultural practises, urban growth and climate change. The book is just as much about these factors in key environments and how we can possibly turn around these loss in numbers as it is about the individual birds.

How has your relationship with birds developed as your illustration career has?

I’ve been as in touch with nature as long as I have been drawing, long since I can remember. Both have always been part of me. I started illustrating in the very late 90s and gradually animals became a regular feature hidden away in there until they totally took over my work. From painting foxes on the streets to painting hundreds of watercolour birds. Having had a love of nature for so long, painting and writing about birds came naturally, I just expressed my inner quips and heart murmurs. If anything, I've probably had less time to do any bird watching since starting the books than before but maybe that’s because the arrival of my to children corresponded with that. I can easily say that my wonderment, fascination and utter awe grows year on year with these amazing creatures.

What is one of your most vivid bird memories?

There’s so many, but one of the most powerful was having my dad put a ladder next to a swallow’s nest right by our back door. Their amazing mud hut was full of these huge eyed smiley chicks, so cute. My heart still chimes for those guys.

I love your bird illustrations because they are stylised and fun, but also accurate and easily identifiable - how do you go about finding that balance?

Thanks! I think its really important to get the silhouette of the bird right and then the colours in the right place. Then really you can take libbos with just about anything, massive eyes and smiles or a fluro colour scheme, as long as people can see what it is it doesn't really matter. Plus I don't go mad on details, like feathers and such, which makes it so much easier.

Do you have a favourite bird to illustrate?

The blue tit is my signature go to bird for a doodle, tag or drawing, but painting-wise I love doing lapwings, they are cute and have a kind of metallic sheen to them so you can add other colours into the mix to make them pop, plus you can paint their chicks too who are basically balls of moss on twig legs.

(Matt will teach you how to illustrate a lapwing in the video below)

Care to share a bird fact?

A kestrel used to be called a Wind Fucker.

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About Matt Sewell

Artist, illustrator and author Matt Sewell is an avid ornithologist. Many of his books have been translated and published around the world and Matt’s birds have found themselves featured in a high successful licensed range including calendars, mugs, greetings cards and many other gift items.

Matt has illustrated for The Guardian, The National Trust, Barbour, The V&A, Levi’s and painted walls for Greenpeace, BBC’s Springwatch and Countryfile, Helly Hansen, Puma and the RSPB. His artwork has been exhibited in London, New York, Tokyo and Paris.

Follow Matt on Instagram for regular updates or check out his website to learn more.