How Creativity Saved Andrew Alan Matthews
“Paranoid Schizophrenia” two words that often provokes fear, misunderstanding, and stigma. But for Greater Manchester artist Andrew Alan Matthews, this diagnosis didn’t destroy him; it saved his life. Now a passionate advocate for mental health, Andrew has used his creativity not just to express himself, but to survive, heal, and inspire.
Andrew’s connection to art began early. At just five years old, he encountered Charles Dollman’s painting “Famine” at Salford Art Gallery, a moment that would go on to shape his life. “I was always interested in art after seeing that painting,” he said. “It inspired me to become an artist.”
That early spark never faded. Last year, decades after his first inspiration, Andrew saw his own painting, Salford and Manchester by Night, displayed in the very same gallery. It was a powerful full-circle moment for the artist, a symbol of his resilience and growth through some of life’s most difficult challenges.
In 1996, Andrew began experiencing extreme stress, though he didn’t recognise it as such at the time. “I believed someone at work had laced a cake with laxatives. I was under pressure and paranoid. It was completely against my nature, but I retaliated. That one small act became the worst thing I’ve ever done. And it set off a chain of events that spiralled.”
That spiral led to a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia at age 28. It was a life-changing moment, but ultimately a turning point. Andrew says, “Small things can snowball into bigger problems, and that’s what happened to me.”
Misconceptions about schizophrenia are common and damaging. While media portrayals often depict individuals with schizophrenia as violent or dangerous, the truth tells a different story. People with schizophrenia account for less than 10% of all violent crimes. Most, like Andrew, are more likely to be vulnerable themselves.
“Luckily, I’m on the lowest side of the scale, the tip of the iceberg,” Andrew explains. “But every time you hear the words ‘paranoid schizophrenia’, you think of a mass-murdering psychopath. That is nothing like me. People assume you can just ‘snap out of it’ or ‘get out of bed’, but sometimes you simply can’t.”
During his most difficult periods, art became more than a passion – it became a lifeline. Andrew’s creative work offered an outlet for the emotions and thoughts he struggled to express in words. In paint and canvas, he found clarity, comfort, and purpose.
Andrew agrees. His collections often reflect his personal journey with mental health. Through his vivid depictions of Salford, Manchester, and beyond, he creates more than scenes – he tells stories. Stories of struggle, healing, community, and resilience.
“I think mental health is a big issue that isn’t highlighted enough,” he says. “You have different people with different types of mental illnesses, but all too often, they are lumped together or misunderstood. It’s taken me decades to overcome the stress and stigma that came with my diagnosis.”
With approximately 85 in every 10,000 people affected by paranoid schizophrenia at some point in their lives, Andrew’s story is more common than many might realise. Yet few speak openly about it.
That’s why Andrew is committed to telling his story. Not for sympathy, but for solidarity. Not to dwell on the pain, but to spotlight the healing. His latest exhibition highlights both the evolution of the urban environment and the personal transformations that come with adversity.
Whether it’s a nostalgic painting of the old Rialto cinema (now replaced by a McDonald’s) or a moody cityscape of Salford at night, his work captures both the external and internal landscapes of change.
Andrew’s story reminds us that art is not just decoration. It is communication. It is therapy. It is survival.
And most of all, it is hope.
His exhibition is open now until July 27th at the Emma Evans Gallery in Monton. Come and see the world through Andrew’s eyes – and perhaps, understand a little more about the stories we all carry within us.