ALUMNUS INTERVIEW: Matt Baker, class of 1995

We caught up recently with Alumnus Matt Baker as part of the 40th Anniversary Art Gallery. Matt shared with the College community his compelling artwork ‘Sudan, the last male Northern White Rhino’. We asked Matt to answer some questions on what he is up to, some memories from his time at SPCC, and his future plans.

I’m currently... raising kids, working as an Illustrator for Zenos Media, teaching Visual Arts at St. Andrews Christian School, and creating fine art as a hobby.

I was at SPCC Newcastle from … 1990 to 1995.

At school I... drew in my school diary, drew in my art book, drew when I should've been doing homework, drew on my homework, and quite possibly procrastinated on most other things, except art assignments.

My best memory of SPCC... too many great memories to pick the best, but playing Mr Beaver in 'The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe,' somehow has not made it into my top ten.

A staff member that particularly impacted me was… Well many of them did, and I'd love to list them all, but if I may only pick one, I'll have to say Richard Rule, since he was also my church Pastor, a key mentor and a friend in the years following school.

When I left school, I wanted to… get married, pursue a career in animation, draw comic books or illustrate Bible stories. In the years since, I've managed to do all four, to varying degrees of success.

The biggest influence in my life... would have to be Jesus Christ. Who knows where I would be if it wasn't for Christ in my life.

My greatest achievement is... having a family that loves me despite my flaws.

In the future I’d like to… write and illustrate some of my own story ideas, continue creating fine art for people to enjoy, and live long enough to bounce my grandkids on my knee one day.

The thing I wish I had done but never got around to... buying shares in Pixar before 'Toy Story' was released in 1995.

One last thing... I'm grateful to have been a student at St Philip’s, I'll always treasure my memories from my time there, and feel blessed to have had such wonderful friends and teachers.