Trained at the West of England College of Art, Matthews worked in advertising for Plastic Dog Graphics before turning freelance in 1970, initially under the name Skyline Studios.

[3] More than 90 of his pictures have been published worldwide, selling in poster format,[4] as well as many international editions of calendars, jigsaw puzzles, postcards, notecards, snowboards and T-shirts.

He has been a regular exhibitor at the Chris Beetles Gallery,[5] in London's West End, where he met English comedian, actor, writer and producer John Cleese,[6] an avid collector of his work.

[15] He has also written lyrics and played drums on a music album influenced by his images; American guitarist Jeff Scheetz, John Payne (Asia) on bass guitar, Oliver Wakeman (Yes) on keyboards and Pete Coleman (composer and multi-instrumentalist).

[16] Album covers (including EPs, LPs and DVDs)[17]: Anthologies: Portfolios: Illustrated books: Paperback covers: Stephen R. Lawhead: A. Merritt: Michael Moorcock: Andre Norton: Clark Ashton Smith: Others: (Rodney Matthews' images have also been used on many international editions, particularly for Moorcock's German publishers.)