Born and raised in Dorset, England, Thirteenth Line is a colourblind street artist, combat veteran, and lifelong misfit who paints what can’t always be said. His work blends bold cartoon-like forms and vibrant palettes with the haunting undertones of depression, PTSD, and emotional and physical survival, a visual mask that mirrors the one he wears in life.

Behind the pop of colours and playful characters and skeletons lies something deeper: a raw, honest translation of pain disguised as joy. Every piece is a moment of emotional clarity wrapped in soft edges , a bright scream from the shadows.

Matthew’s art often emerges in unpredictable bursts, like lightning through a cracked window: sudden, rare, electric. When the window closes, it’s quiet, until the next storm.

Being colourblind adds another layer to his process. He uses colours carefully, often wondering how the world will actually see what he’s created, a question that fascinates and drives him.

Whether painting on canvas, wood, walls, or any other surface, Thirteenth Line’s work is a rebellion against silence. It’s childhood meets chaos, graffiti meets grief, and darkness dressed in neon. His art doesn’t ask to be understood, only seen and felt.