Matthews spent more than twenty years as a documentary filmmaker for the BBC Natural History Unit.
[1] His notable credits included the 2013 BBC television series, Africa, featuring Sir David Attenborough.
[1][2] Matthews lived in Bristol, England, for much of his life, as his former home was located near the BBC Natural History Unit's headquarters on Whiteladies Road.
[1][2] He specialized in aerial film shots following his return to South Africa.
[2] Richard Matthews was killed in a small plane crash on 3 March 2013, while filming aerial footage in over the Damaraland area of Kunene Region, Namibia.