Blackheath artist Mathew is known mainly as a portrait painter working on public and private commissions and through his entries in the Archibald Prize in which he has been runner-up twice, voted Peoples Choice and in 2013 won the Packing Room Prize with a portrait of Tara Moss.

In 2010 he won the Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award for his portrait of sinologist and author Pierre Ryckmans, judged by John McDonald. He has been a finalist in the 2012 Jacaranda Prize and the Dobell Prize and in 2013 the Adelaide Perry Prize (commended) and the Calleen Art Award..