About the Artist: Matthew Fleet

With a focus on graphite, Matthew works from a home based studio in Acton, Ontario. Matthew studied visual arts at York University while earning his honours degree in geography and later earned a diploma in architectural technology from Sheridan College. His artwork shares time with a career as an accessibility consultant.

Matthew’s background in geography is evident in his series of hand drawn maps rendered in the style of antique 17th century maps. Inspired by his academic studies of antique maps of the Caribbean, Matthew  rendered a map of Kahshe Lake where his family cottages. Prints of this map adorned with frigates and sea monsters were so popular amongst other Kahshe Lake residents that Matthew has gone on to produce a series of maps of other popular cottage destinations. The tedious nature of hand drawing a map decorated with intricate borders and mythical monsters typically limits Matthew to one creation a year, of which reproductions are printed. The reproductions of his maps all bear his signature and are printed on a parchment style of paper to embellish the old world feel. These maps capture the content of modern maps, but it is their charm and romance that have earned them wall space in many cottages.

Occasional departures from his focus on maps have seen Matthew’s subject matter range from elephants to a sentimental rendering of the Avro Arrow and a growing series of classic cars.

Matthew’s work is displayed at selected fine art galleries and he shows his work at a number of art & craft shows each year where he has developed a returning customer base who come annually to get ‘this year’s map’.