Matthew was born in April 1989 in Nelspruit, a town in Mpumalanga province in the north-eastern part of South Africa. Growing up with the bushveld on his doorstep, he developed a deep love for the region’s wildlife. Just 40 minutes from the famous Kruger National Park and surrounded by game reserves, inspiration for his art was never far away.
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In August 2015, Matthew relocated to Cape Town, where what began as a hobby soon became a full-time business.
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“A couple of years after moving to Cape Town, I started drawing more often again. I set up a Facebook page for my art, which got an amazing response. A few months later, I took a batch of drawings to a local market, hoping to sell one or two. The response was incredible – I sold almost everything that weekend! That’s when I realised I might be onto something. A month later, I quit my job to focus fully on my art. Four years on, the demand for both prints and originals just keeps growing – and my drawings continue to improve.”
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Unlike painting, pencil art is less commonly seen – but it’s the only medium Matthew has ever wanted to use.
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“I’ve always loved working with pencils and never really considered anything else. My work is all about fine detail – capturing not only my subject, but also its emotion and essence. With pencil, I can be completely in control, ensuring I never miss a single detail.”
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Each drawing is built up in multiple layers of colour or graphite, starting with the lightest tones and gradually working into deeper, darker layers. He works on slightly textured Fabriano Academia 200gsm paper, which enhances the layering process. Just as important as the subject itself is the surrounding blank space – a signature element of Matthew’s work that draws the eye directly to the subject, creating a striking and distinctive impact.