Terry Mathews

Terry Mathews was born in England in 1931, brought up in Uganda, and educated in Kenya and England. His life as a child in Uganda was enriched by his close association with his next-door neighbour, Captain Charles Pitman, the renowned Chief Game Warden of that country.

With a family greatly involved in African wildlife, Mathews passion for animals transcended into his secondary profession as a sculptor. Despite losing sight in his lead eye, Mathews sculptures continued to evolve and grow into cast bronze pieces that captured the movement and freedom of the beloved wildlife he surrounded himself by. With his experience of being in the bush with wildlife on many photographic and collecting Safaris, Mathews is able to take the time to study animals and birds, enabling his pieces to take on a lifelike appearance despite the lack of anatomical research. Mathews believes that, “The movement is more important than the anatomical detail.”

Situated in Kenya, Mathew’s work is cast and finished in a foundry founded by his son. There, he is able to follow the casting process closely to ensure his sculpture embody the vision of his initial creation.

Mathew has worked with well-known sculptors like John Skeaping, William Timym, Johnathan Kenworthy and Rob Glenn. Mathews work has been shown in Europe, Africa and the United States.

Terry is a strong supporter of conservation organizations, having contributed many bronzes to a number of conservation organizations including: Game Conservation International (contributed ten bronzes), Friends of Conservation, Kuki Gallmann's Ranch, The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, Rhino Rescue, Rhino Ark, Kenya Wildlife Service, Nairobi National Park, East African Wildlife Society, Cullman & Hurt Community Wildlife Project (Terry was Vice Chairman for a number of years and contributed three bronzes ) and, World Wide Fund for Nature.

In addition, he is on the Advisory Committee of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and in 1990 donated a full size Rhino Cow and Calf to act as a begging bowl for the Rhino Conservation Movement which now stands at the entrance to the Nairobi National Park.

Later Terry was commissioned by the WWF and the East Africa Wildlife Society to build a monument to the burning of the ivory. The bronze was cast by Terry's son Denis in Nairobi and provided at cost. It now stands at the site of the original burning of the 12 tons of ivory.