Norfolk


<p>Cute at first glance, but look closer and there’s something darker at play &#8211; that’s the signature style of Norwich-born artist, Matt Callaby, aka <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mrcallaby/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MrCallaby</a>, whose bold, graphic creations have been building a loyal following far beyond Norfolk.</p>



<p>Now he’s back where it all began. The artist returns to his hometown for a first solo show at <a href="https://shug-gallery.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shug Gallery</a> called <em><a href="https://www.mrcallaby.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Monochrome Thoughts</a></em> (<strong>Fri 24 Apr &#8211; Sat 16 May</strong>) &#8211; a full-circle moment that’s as exciting as it is, in his words, “slightly more nerve-wracking&#8221; than exhibiting elsewhere.</p>



<p>Ahead of the opening, we caught up with him to talk coming home, creative pressure, and the stories behind those deceptively playful characters.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="952" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.20.53.png" alt="MrCallaby studio Bristol" class="wp-image-78234" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.20.53.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.20.53-800x508.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.20.53-1000x635.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.20.53-768x487.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-so-is-it-nice-to-be-back-in-norfolk">So, is it nice to be back in Norfolk?</h3>



<p>Yeah, I grew up here and went to Norwich Art School, then I moved to London for a while, and I now live in Bristol. It’s amazing to be back. It does add a bit of pressure though, when I’m showing elsewhere I’m relatively anonymous, but here I’m thinking about my nan coming!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Is this your first exhibition in Norwich?</h3>



<p>Yes. There’s something about showing in your home city &#8211; it definitely feels more nerve-wracking, I feel like the pressure is on. But it’s also really exciting. Norwich has a brilliant independent art scene, so it feels like the right place for it.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-there-anywhere-you-are-looking-forward-to-visiting-while-you-re-here">Is there anywhere you are looking forward to visiting while you’re here?</h3>



<p>Definitely the North Norfolk coast. But right now I’m in full show mode &#8211; there’s always a million things to do and it&#8217;s hard to think about anything else. I’m taking my nan out for her birthday probably to one of the National Trust properties, then hopefully a beach day after the show opens to relax.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-seem-pretty-chilled-out-right-now-or-is-it-an-act">You seem pretty chilled out right now, or is it an act?</h3>



<p>Yeah &#8211; I&#8217;m a mix of excitement and nerves about the exhibition. You’re always wondering if people will come, if the work will land, if you’ve forgotten something. We&#8217;ve curated it all, and then once it’s hung, which is the next job, it’s out of your hands and you just have to hope for the best.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-the-nerves-get-easier-the-more-you-exhibit">Do the nerves get easier the more you exhibit?</h3>



<p>Not really. My first solo show &#8211; on Greek Street in Soho &#8211; was chaos I was at burnout. The second was better because I learnt from my previous mistakes, but here I am nervous again. Each show seems to carry more pressure than the last, I&#8217;ve heard other artists say this, and it definitely seems to be true.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="950" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.22.59.png" alt="MrCallaby solo exhibit" class="wp-image-78231" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.22.59.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.22.59-800x507.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.22.59-1000x633.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.22.59-768x486.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Did you always want to be an artist?</h3>



<p>Yes, I always drew and painted, but I didn’t think it could be a career, so I ended up going into graphic design. This led to advertising which I enjoyed, I like coming up with ideas. I still painted alongside it though &#8211; evenings, weekends, whenever I could. The agencies I worked at would often let me use a corner of the studio to paint in so it&#8217;s always been a constant in my life. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">How did it become full time?</h3>



<p>It built slowly. My colleagues were buying my paintings and I&#8217;d sell pieces at work Christmas fairs, all the while I have been documenting online and interest just grew and grew. It got to the point where I decided to give it a go full time so I saved as much money as I could over the course of like three years so I could comfortably dedicate 6-12 months just painting. I ended up moving to Montenegro to stretch the money a bit further and give myself space. I thought, if it didn&#8217;t work, I’d just go back to advertising &#8211; but I haven&#8217;t needed to, it&#8217;s been six years now.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1496" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.22.41.png" alt="MrCallaby painting in Montenegro" class="wp-image-78232" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.22.41.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.22.41-535x800.png 535w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.22.41-668x1000.png 668w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.22.41-768x1149.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wow-6-years-it-s-not-that-long-in-the-scheme-of-things">Wow 6 years, it&#8217;s not that long in the scheme of things</h3>



<p>No not really. I still feel like a complete amateur! Absolutely winging it, but I think that’s part of it. As long as I am making work that I like, that resonates, I&#8217;ll keep pushing myself. There&#8217;s so many mediums to try and ideas, I feel like I&#8217;ll just keep going and never retire. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-did-your-style-develop-your-work-is-pretty-distinctive">How did your style develop, your work is pretty distinctive?</h3>



<p>I was inspired by a mix of graffiti, street art and cartoons, there was this little zine called VNA, Very Nearly Almost, which documented all the street art character stuff at the time and I was hooked on it. I started drawing my own characters and  experimenting eventually landing on this chubby, squishy, cute, but kind of sinister character style. </p>



<p>The cuteness is key, you can wrap quite heavy concepts in a cute theme, and get away with a lot. So I just play with that and try and strike that balance between cute and a bit sleazy and dark but the balance is so important. Cute on the surface, but slightly off if you look closer.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="953" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.21.01.png" alt="artist MrCallaby" class="wp-image-78233" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.21.01.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.21.01-800x508.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.21.01-1000x635.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.21.01-768x488.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-work-is-normally-so-colourful-why-is-this-exhibit-in-black-and-white">Your work is normally so colourful, why is this exhibit in black and white?</h3>



<p>So, my older work actually started in black and white, but for the past six years I’ve been focused on really bright, graphic colour pieces &#8211; and they’re quite labour-intensive. Each one is built up in layers so you can’t see any brushstrokes, just flat blocks of colour, which means some paintings take weeks to finish.</p>



<p>Because of that, you end up with loads of ideas that never get used. This show was about not losing those. Working in charcoal and ink meant I could make pieces in days instead of weeks, so I could bring a lot more ideas to life. It was also just nice to change things up &#8211; and the black and white felt like it suited the themes as well.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="998" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.25.09.png" alt="Monochrome Thoughts MrCallaby" class="wp-image-78227" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.25.09.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.25.09-800x532.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.25.09-1000x665.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-22-at-10.25.09-768x511.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-do-you-want-people-to-take-from-the-show">What do you want people to take from the show?</h3>



<p>I think because there’s more work in this show &#8211; about 40 pieces &#8211; you can really step into the world I’ve been building over the years. Each exhibition adds to it, with new characters, objects and ideas, so this feels like a bigger snapshot of that whole universe and how I think.</p>



<p>There are also themes around balance &#8211; things like drinking or everyday vices &#8211; but in a subtle way. A lot of the imagery plays with that idea of things being slightly precarious, and people can either recognise that in themselves or just take from it what they want.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-definitely-relatable-what-does-a-normal-painting-day-look-like-for-you">Definitely relatable! What does a normal painting day look like for you?</h3>



<p>I’m probably the opposite of the stereotypical artist &#8211; I’m quite structured. I’m up early, walk the dog, then try to stick to a nine-to-five in the studio. It helps keep me disciplined, otherwise it’d be easy to drift.</p>



<p>Music’s on all day &#8211; usually heavy techno or rock, which doesn’t really match the work, but it gets me into a rhythm. Then maybe a bit of a&nbsp;Louis Theroux&nbsp;podcast in between. It’s a bit random and I don&#8217;t know why but it works &#8211; maybe my days as an Emo!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dream-collab">Dream collab?</h3>



<p>I’d love to collaborate with a florist. I’ve been making a lot of vases recently, and I like the idea of creating a show where the ceramics and bouquets are designed together &#8211; taking over a beautiful florists rather than a traditional gallery.</p>



<p>I think it’d be really exciting to exhibit work in a more unexpected setting, with pieces almost hidden amongst the flowers. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while &#8211; just finding new ways to show work outside the usual white-wall space.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1108" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot2024-04-12at14.13.00.png-copy.jpg" alt="Sad Vases Mr Callaby " class="wp-image-78267" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot2024-04-12at14.13.00.png-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot2024-04-12at14.13.00.png-copy-722x800.jpg 722w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot2024-04-12at14.13.00.png-copy-903x1000.jpg 903w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/norfolk/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2026/04/Screenshot2024-04-12at14.13.00.png-copy-768x851.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-next-for-you-after-monochrome-thoughts">What’s next for you after <em>Monochrome Thoughts</em>?</h3>



<p>Straight after the show I have a mural project in Ibiza &#8211; I’ll be painting a dance floor at a villa called <a href="https://canrudayla.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Can Radyla</a> as part of an artist residency, which should be fun. Then I’m planning to take a bit of a break.</p>



<p>After that, I’m focusing on turning my hand-painted vases into a product — they’re being produced in a more affordable, retail-ready way, so I’m looking to get them into homeware shops. It’s a whole new world for me, but really exciting. I’ll probably keep painting in the background too… and no doubt end up doing another show and stretching myself too thin again!</p>



<p><strong>Check out Matt&#8217;s solo exhibit, <em>Monochrome Thoughts</em>, is showing at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shug.gallery/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shug Gallery</a>, 12 Lower Goat Lane, Norwich, NR2 1EL from Fri 24 Apr &#8211; Sat 16 May</strong></p>



<p></p>


Muddy meets artist MrCallaby ahead of his solo exhibition in Norwich

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