Richard Mathieson was born in the Wairarapa and raised in Taranaki. He attended New Plymouth Boys’ High School and was taught art and encouraged to go to art school by the late great Tom Kreisler. He studied sculpture at the Elam School of Fine Arts, The University of Auckland.

Richard makes abstract sculpture that often references botanical growth, the repetition of nature, and landscape. He works primarily in bronze casting using the age old sand casting method with the sand moulds being taken off crafted wooden patterns. His outdoor works are made up of multiple modular castings that are assembled on site.

As well as making sculpture Richard operates an art and object installation business. He is a long time member the Medal Art NZ group, MANZ, and has been involved with the development of the Sculpture in the Gardens project since its inception in 2007 till 2020. Richard has a Sculpture in the Gardens permanent collection – Turn, a 4.5m bronze fountain was commissioned for the Pohutukawa Walkway in 2007.

Richard and his family live in South Auckland.