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Award-winning photographer Matt Marshall maps emotion and landscape in Dartmoor MA project
Thursday, 3 April, 2025 — Award-winning photographer Matt Marshall explores Dartmoor, mental health and military landscapes through Dystopia, his MA project at Arts University Plymouth.
<p dir="ltr">Photographer<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mattmarshall_photography" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Matt Marshall</a> has taken the national stage by storm. In 2024, he won <em>Best in Show</em>, <em>Gold (Places)</em> and <em>Silver (People)</em> at the Association of Photographers (AOP) Student Awards, one of the UK’s most prestigious industry competitions.</p>
<p dir="ltr">His image ‘Tinside Lido Prepares for Summer’ also won the Single Image (Colour) category of the EIZO UK Student Awards and was exhibited nationally. He placed 2nd in the Professional Architecture category at the Chromatic Photography Awards, received an Honourable Mention at the International Photography Awards, and was recently selected for publication by DOCU Magazine.</p>
<p dir="ltr">A graduate of<a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-commercial-photography-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> BA (Hons) Commercial Photography</a> in 2024 and now a student on the University’s MA Photography programme, (which from September 2025 will be offered as part of <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/ma-fine-art" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MA Fine Art</a>). Matt is building a career that merges emotional depth with creative ambition. His latest work, ‘Dystopia’, is a meditative, walking-based photographic journey through Dartmoor, shaped by personal experiences and environmental reflection.<br /></p>
‘Tinside Lido Prepares for Summer’ by Matt Marshall
<p dir="ltr">After graduating from BA (Hons) Commercial Photography in 2024, 25-year-old Matt, who is based in Plymouth, was ready to take on more clients, but he recognised the value of taking more time to invest in his personal work first.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“I had the skills to go straight into industry, but I hadn’t really had the time to pursue a personal project,” he explains. “Doing the MA ended up being a last-minute decision, but it turned out to be a really good one.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">He reflects on the turning point.<br /></p>
I came back to university after years in retail. I thought, if I don’t do this now, I’ll never do it. Fear was a good motivator.
Matt Marshall, MA Fine Art
<p>Since joining the MA Photography programme, Matt has exhibited work, received national recognition, and taken on mentoring roles with undergraduate students, building his portfolio alongside his professional identity.</p>
Matt Marshall's work on the front cover of DOCU Magazine
<p dir="ltr">Matt’s current project, ‘Dystopia’, explores militarised landscapes and ecological memory across Dartmoor, combining psychogeographic and documentary methods with raw emotional insight.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“It started as a response to my anxiety disorder, but it’s evolved into a kind of hybrid methodology,” Matt explains. “It’s about understanding my own connection to the landscape. That’s the foundation of it. It's also becoming more of an environmental project, exploring how we should be preserving these spaces.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">He draws influence from land artists like Richard Long and alumni of Arts University Plymouth, including internationally-acclaimed photographer <strong><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/posts/photographer-nicholas-j-r-whites-love-letter-to-dartmoor" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nicholas J R White</a></strong>. “Nicholas J R White’s photobook about Dartmoor’s military zones really inspired me. He included grid references, and I’ve visited some of those locations, adding to the narrative I’ve been building.”<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">“Recently my work has been more centred around expressions of mental health, sifting through the emotions I carry and learning to express them creatively,” Matt says. “During your undergraduate studies, you have a lot to cover and often find yourself needing to move onto the next project, just as you’re really developing the skills to succeed for the current one. Obviously this has benefited my practice, as you can see in the award wins to date, but MA level study is giving me the opportunity to really focus on a single project over a 12-month period.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">Matt is clear about the impact of creative practice: “When you’re struggling, talking about your problems isn’t always the most natural path for everyone, but if you can learn to create work that embodies what you’re feeling, the conversations will follow more naturally. If you can create work that you’re passionate about, it can be better than therapy, because you get a chance to express yourself and then your passion will open up conversations.</p>
<p dir="ltr">With a July deadline in sight, Matt is focusing on completing the work and preparing for a future exhibition somewhere near Dartmoor that can reflect the themes of his new work.<br /></p>
Matt Marshall
<p dir="ltr">The AOP prize package has been transformative. “The equipment has been game-changing,” Matt says. “Having access to the ERC [Equipment Resource Centre] in Arts University Plymouth is fantastic, but having my own kit means I can make decisions last minute and head out to Dartmoor without any planning, which is an incredible opportunity.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">That agility has helped Matt develop both spontaneous and structured workflows. He continues to support the University community, taking part in one-to-one portfolio reviews for third-year students and contributing work to an upcoming exhibition at Ocean Studios featuring MA students, staff and undergraduates.<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">While ‘Dystopia’ takes creative precedence, Matt has kept a foot in the commercial world, working with clients including Plymouth poet Ozzy Welsh and running shoots for undergraduate students at the University of Plymouth. He’s also building a personal archive of portraits of his six-year-old son.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Dystopia relies heavily on ambient lighting and gut instinct, whereas studio work is more technical and easier to plan for,” he says. “Taking the time to focus on more personal work gives me fresh insight into my skills and abilities, which in turn benefits clients and helps me bring more to my commissioned shoots.”<br /></p>
Matt Marshall
<p dir="ltr">Matt’s decision to stay local is deliberate. “I’m not here because I have to be. Plymouth is a good creative hub,” he explains. “There’s a growing network of creatives and lots of opportunities. Going out onto the Hoe or to the Lido, those are great landmarks and make for strong photo opportunities.”<br /></p>
There are so many free or low-cost opportunities in the South West. Entry fees won’t bankrupt you. The worst anyone can say is no. You miss every shot you don’t take. So I’m going to keep applying for things and keep putting my name out there.
Matt Marshall, MA Fine Art
Matt Marshall
<p dir="ltr"><strong>MA Photography</strong> is now offered as part of<a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/ma-fine-art" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> MA Fine Art</a> from September 2025, giving photographers the opportunity to explore long-form, interdisciplinary projects in a research-led environment.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Based in our dedicated Postgraduate Centre, students benefit from access to our analogue and digital darkrooms, photographic cove, editing suites, print bureau and Equipment Resource Centre, with over 6,000 pieces of industry-standard kit free to hire.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Guided by expert staff, postgraduate photographers are encouraged to experiment, collaborate, and develop distinctive personal practices, with opportunities for exhibition, publication and peer review throughout the year.<br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">Whether you’re interested in creative expression or client-led briefs, our undergraduate photography degrees prepare students to thrive.</p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-photography" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>BA (Hons) Photography</strong></a> focuses on critical image-making, cultural context, and experimental practice.<br /><br /></p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-commercial-photography-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>BA (Hons) Commercial Photography</strong></a> prepares you for real-world commissions, blending visual storytelling with business and professional development.<br /><br /></p></li></ul>
<p dir="ltr">Students benefit from expert tuition, industry-standard studios, darkrooms, and access to national exhibitions like Free Range. Recent partners include Getty Images, Mercedes-Benz and The Met Office, with students achieving recognition in global photography awards.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Explore our resources and speak to our academic teams at the next <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/events/openday-ugpg-apr25" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Open Day</a>.<br /></p>
