Matthew Smith

Matthew Smith is a Lecturer and Programme Manager at the University Centre Leeds (Luminate Education Group), where he teaches on the Foundation Degree and BA Photography courses. He is also a PhD candidate in Art History and Visual Studies at the University of Manchester, enrolled since October 2020. His research investigates the intersection of heritage car restoration, community engagement, and mental health, focusing on male-led collaborative projects involving vintage Volkswagen restoration in the UK.

• Education:
• PhD candidate, Art History and Visual Studies, University of Manchester (2020–present)
• MRes in Contemporary Fine Art Practice, Leeds Beckett University
• Undergraduate degree in Photography
• PGCE in Art and Photography (2004)

Smith’s research explores how communities of interest, such as classic car restoration groups, foster mental wellbeing through collaboration and emotional investment in shared projects. His earlier work examined memory and family albums, blending art practice with academic inquiry. His current project combines ethnographic observation, stakeholder partnerships (e.g., Air-cooled Volkswagen groups and museums), and critical theory to challenge traditional notions of labor, masculinity, and object-centric communities.

Smith has exhibited widely in the north of England, bridging artistic practice with scholarly research. His interdisciplinary approach integrates art, history, and social science to interrogate the human condition through material culture and communal activity.