Matthew is an architect and partner at Coombs Jones with expertise in making places and communities. He is a senior lecturer in architecture at the University of the West of England and an advocate in practice for Design Commission for Wales.

Since graduating from the Welsh School of Architecture (WSA) in 2005, Matthew worked at Design Research Unit Wales (DRU-w) and Allford Hall Monaghan Morris Architects before founding Coombs Jones.

Matthew has particular experience in socially engaged and participatory placemaking; community-led planning; and public engagement. He is part of ‘Hands On Bristol’, a collaboration between UWE and community groups in Bristol that connects students, academics and communities through participatory and creative design processes.

Matthew has completed a PhD by design exploring place specific approaches to development of rural towns. This has led to extensive involvement in community-led planning across Wales and beyond, including the RTPI award shortlisted 'Shape My Brecon Beacons' place planning toolkit.-

Matthew teaches design at undergraduate and postgraduate levels at UWE and has taught at Cardiff and Newcastle Universities.