The talented 24-year-old works for the critically acclaimed and controversial artist Damien Hirst whilst also creating his own projects.

His latest work is called 'You'll pass in a crowd with a shove' and the main piece features the wall covered in hundreds of drawings on envelopes of characters that have captured the artist's imagination, many of which are from Chorley.

Inside each envelope is a piece of text making the art work fascinating as well as interactive.

It has been described as 'an intricate visual world where the visual and the written word mingle to produce a mesmerising dystopia'.

The former Holy Cross High School student said: "It was about people you meet and the exhibition is trying to give 'the everyday' the limelight you get in a glossy magazine.

"It's about the Saturday morning crowd on Market Street. People are coming towards you, all with their own world going on in their heads, but it's all connected. It's playing with that.

"It was exciting to see the work come alive, people interacting with it, touching it. After so many months of it being a solo project, it was great to see people becoming a part of the art itself."

Mat graduated with a first class degree in fine art at Loughborough University and a Masters at Wimbledon. He has worked at Manchester's Whitworth Gallery as well as teaching at schools in Manchester.

His exhibition received a great reception from art lovers across the country, including proud family and friends who made the trip from Chorley to the opening.

He is currently looking into a venue in the North West to exhibit the show so that the people of Chorley who inspired his work can see what they have helped create.

Three pieces were sold on the night and there is high interest from a buyer in the main vast collection of envelopes.

The exhibition will continue to run until Sunday October 26, open 12 – 6pm Wednesdays to Saturdays at The Muse Gallery on Portobello Road.