MATHEW EDENBROW

Born in 1980, Mathew grew up in a small village in West Yorkshire surround by countryside and farmland; this was the foundation for his love of animals and the natural world. Mathew spent his early life exploring the countryside and marvelling at the animals he could observe going about their day to day lives, growing his fascination through the work of naturalist heroes such as David Attenborough and Jane Goodall.

This fascination lead Mathew to Leeds University where he studied ecology and where his passion to learn about animal behaviour was cultivated. Mathew then went on to complete a Masters degree in ecology with a focus on animal behaviour at the University of Bangor, followed by a PhD investigating the evolution of animal personality traits at the University of Exeter. His following career academia allowed Mathew to observe a variety of animals in their natural environment and gain deeper insight into their behaviour and motivations.

Mathew now works as a self taught ceramic animal sculptor based in Llangeitho, Ceredigion. Mathew's work is strongly informed by his varied life experiences with animals and his academic understanding of animal behaviour. His work seeks to capture everyday moments within an animal's life and aims to provide insight into animal behaviour - and how small, often minute, changes in body form or expression can convey not only information, but also give insight into intention, motivation, and emotional state. During the creation of each piece, Mathew always aims to show the beauty of the animal form and hopefully reveal something to the observer they may not have previously noticed.

In 2020 Mathew was shortlisted for the final of Wildlife Artist of the Year and Creates Emerging Artist Award, as well as being selected for the Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual Exhibition.