Whistle Stop Tour

Matt Whistler, AKA Whistles, is what you might call an extreme artist! He is also a comedian, performer, film producer and robot maker…. And already gaining legendary status.

Key achievements include a commission from the Liverpool Tate entitled Portraits of Liverpool Biennial as seen through a panoramic camera. Other notable successes to date include:

• 1998: Static art gallery Liverpool Matt Whistler push scooter records illustrated through Art.
• 2000 - 2006: Radio West Pier Arthouse movie.
• 2006 - 2014: Matt Whistlers Trip Out movie.
• 2013: Manhattan Yotel robot hotel.Digital Robots on display in Bots on 10th collection
• 2013 - 2019: movie short Matt Cat Pratt.

In terms of sources of inspiration, Matt says: “I find materials and objects in my local environment and observing people in the streets and in film. I also feed my artistic compulsion by giving myself the challenge of creating art and comedy without one discrediting the other.”

Maybe not surprisingly, Matt is a fan of Monty Python and all clowns! He told 4walls that: “I feel compelled to stay close to the dream I once had of Charlie Chaplin passing me a clown shoe in an Olympic clown race. The metaphorical baton!”

Upcoming shows

Max will be showcasing his digital artwork in two movies called Matt Cat Pratt 1 and 2. The films can be found on YouTube and they are semi biopic indie shorts that he produced and directed about his life as an artist.


His favourite pieces of work include his AD Bot media pieces, because they are a mixed media collage. They are made from scalpalling, glued together advertising campaigns and layering pieces of retrograde futurism from the 1950s world of wonder magazines. This particular work is what he calls Art Pop and has all been inspired by music, in particular The Space Agency.

In terms of framing, practices can include glueing together sections of reclaimed wood, with interspersed slithers of wood and then spraying over the wood with gold and silver in a drippy fashion.

Matt started working with Aaron Broadhouse in 2016, describing him as “a supportive friend and agent.” He continues: “Photal Photography tailor their frame choice with all mediums to frame my work. I see the framing process as part of a continuation of art - and Photal Photography organically get to know the art through consultation and strong intuition. For me it's not always about the art it's about the experiences that runs with it and simply put I just love friendly people!”
We are delighted that some of his work has made its way into a Larson-Juhl frame!

As for Matt’s ambitions and hopes for the future: “I want to be on every wall in the world! I would like to instigate the birth of several large scale art galleries around the globe in the shape of a whistle. I would also like to build the world's biggest robot.” Well, we did ask!

Fast facts about Matt:

• Three world records on a push scooter. 

• The organisation of the world's first naked speed dating event. 

• One million hits on YouTube with two comedy virals. 

• He once turned a parrot into a national celebrity. 

• His digital robots were exhibited in a robot hotel in Manhattan. 

• He once replaced all the art in a Kurdish restaurant without telling the owner. 

• Everyone in Shoreham-by-Sea now thinks there are sharks in the River Adur because of digital art. 

• Currently Ad Media Bot 1 is the most expensive piece of art work in the world.

About Photal Photography and Gallery


Photal Photography is a family run business based in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, which initially started in 2009 as a means for Aaron to display his own photography work. It has expanded, now offering local artists a chance to display their own work, with new talent constantly growing.

Aaron offers a bespoke framing and mount cutting service with a wide selection of mouldings and mount boards.
Photal Photography also specialises in a restoration and archival service from photographs and negative slides.
Find out more about Matt’s art and antics on all his social channels – @mattwhistler

phonalphotography.co.uk