Matthew Shiell (Student)

I’m a screenwriter and visual storyteller with over a decade of experience as a storyboard

artist and illustrator. I graduated with First Class Honours from IADT in Fine Art, having

previously spent three years in the Animation BA, and I’ve worked across short films,

museum installations, and heritage projects - often helping others bring their stories to life.

In recent years, my focus has shifted to developing my own work as a writer and filmmaker.

My storytelling often explores themes like memory, masculinity, neurodivergence, and

creative identity, blending visual rhythm with emotional nuance. I’m drawn to stories that

linger - ones that sit with quiet moments and leave space for reflection. For the past three

years, I’ve also volunteered with ADHD Ireland, helping facilitate peer support groups for

adults and creatives. This work continues to shape my creative practice - reminding me of

the importance of empathy, honesty, and the power of storytelling to help people feel seen.

A recurring curiosity in my work is how places evolve - especially Dublin, where I now live. I

want to understand the city from both macro and micro perspectives: how it came to be,

and what its current state reveals about the past. That curiosity has become a throughline in

my writing, and it’s usually where a story begins for me. I tend to approach each project

through research first - particularly when writing about historical or political subjects -

because I believe the deeper truths of a story often emerge from context, not just

imagination.