Choose a piece

Mat (Eco) was born in 1974, in Wandsworth, London and grew up in Hull, East Yorkshire. Early creative years were spent painting in the late eighties, as part of the emerging UK graffiti scene. He learned his craft during the now infamous Hull warehouse era.

He left Uni after falling out of love with graphic design, and returned to Hull to finish his studies on the walls. Relocating to Bristol in 1998, he brought his own style and vision to Western walls, and lived for graffiti. The millennium brought new ideas, and new mediums.

In 2001 Eco began working for the Griffin clothing label. They gave him an unprecedented amount of freedom, and he has worked on six collections with them. Eco has worked on many more projects with graffiti crews, artists and design groups. His latest and most noted collaborations include ehquestionmark (EH?) - the design team behind Lex Records' (cousin to Warp Records) beautifully crafted sleeve artwork; the jewel in the crown being the sleeve of Dangermouse and Gemini's highly acclaimed album, 'Ghetto Pop Life'.

The walls are not forgotten, and Mat still believes that the painting and freestyling of walls is the key to keeping a fresh and lively approach to his design work. This, in it's latest manifestation, is the W.S.S.K (Wet Sshame Kingdom) crew - a loose and tongue in cheek gathering of artists trying to move outside the tired perceived constraints of graffiti. This has earned them a place in the 'Street Logos' book by Tristan Manco, a book that takes a look at the very best of the street-art phenomenon in Europe and around the world.

The diversity of Mat's chosen collaborations is integral to both the way he sees his art, and his design process. His most recent work includes an installation at the Cornerhouse in Manchester and also the Arnolfini in Bristol, solo and group shows in London, Paris and New York, and many new T-shirt and product collaborations with fashion groups in the UK, Europe and Japan.