Background
She was born near Dudley in the West Midlands in England, youngest of five children of parents from the South West who had moved to the industrial area for work.
She was born near Dudley in the West Midlands in England, youngest of five children of parents from the South West who had moved to the industrial area for work.
She attended state school there, leaving at 18 to study English Literature at Goldsmiths College, University of London, where she gained a first class honours degree.
Matthews lived and worked in London for six years and has also lived in Hull in Northern England, the West Midlands, Alsace in Northern France and Hertfordshire.