‘My kids say the paintings are terrible’
Gary Porter Content Editor for Cheshire
06:00, 12 Apr 2026
Jamie Lee Matthias with his paintings(Image: SWNS)
Meet the “terrible” Cheshire artist who has raked in thousands from his “diabolical” paintings – after receiving more than 430 commissions from around the world in the last year alone. Jamie Lee Matthias, 42, from Alsager, started the unusual side hustle accidentally – after he gifted his wife, Kate, 40, a “rubbish” portrait as a wedding gift in May 2024.
Kate thought the artwork was so funny she posted a picture of it on social media and within days it racked up thousands of views and comments. Jamie has since been inundated with requests from people desperate for him to create funny versions of their own photographs ever since.
The dad-of-three, now juggles his art business – under the name ‘terribleartbyjamielee’ – alongside his full-time enterprise manager job and says he’s made thousands from his venture alone. Jamie said: “Most people respond with joy and laughter [to my paintings] which is why it’s been so fun, because they absolutely get it.
“They are pretty diabolical – but they are fine. You probably can’t print some of the responses I get, but it’s all said in jest.” According to the dad, one painting generally takes 45 minutes to an hour to finish depending on the amount of people featured.
He is often seen divulging in his quirky talent for approximately four hours a week on average. “I didn’t expect it to become a big part of my life,” he said. “Sometimes, I can spend more time painting than I do at my actual full-time job.”
Last January, Jamie received 130 orders and was painting for at least five hours a day. His artwork has since gone international and he says he’s received requests from 12 countries – including the USA, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. In fact, he estimates that around 35% of his commissions have come from Taiwan. His paintings often start at £45 a piece with some selling for a few hundred.
Family and friends of Jamie Matthias have had paintings created from photographs. (Image: Jamie Matthias / SWNS)
Family and friends of Jamie Matthias have had paintings created from photographs. (Image: Jamie Matthias / SWNS)
Since then, he’s been able to afford a whole new garden for his house as well as a family holiday to Turkey last year. But despite the success, there is always constructive criticism to be found around the house as both Jamie and wife, Kate’s children are on hand to call his work “terrible”.
He said: “My kids say the paintings are terrible. And you know what kids are like, they speak the truth. I always get ‘that’s absolutely shocking’, but deep down I know they love it. It’s colourful and fun. But I have no doubt my kids could definitely paint better than me!”
Jamie says his funniest order was one where he was asked to combine two photos – one of a nice country field and the other of a dog “doing its business”. Jamie has even taken to teaching several art classes locally.
He said: “I think they [the participants] were turning up for a proper guided painting session, but everybody completely embraced it. It was really good fun and, with the exception of mine, there were some really good paintings at the end of the night.”
Jamie has also been part of school sessions, as he painted in his step-daughter’s school. He said: “Some of them actually thought it was quite good, but you know, they were 10-and-11-year-olds so it’s probably that sort of level isn’t it?”
Jamie has recently painted Dame Judi Dench, another keen artist, for a portrait that will be auctioned off to support the Sobell House Hospice. Dame Dench, who has also provided a painting for the charity, signed Jamie’s artwork – which will be auctioned later this year. “To have someone like Judi Dench look at my piece of artwork and agree to sign it is just absolutely insane really,” he said.