He came to the attention of Tony Scott whilst shooting television commercials for the London-based company RSA Films. After working as visual effects cinematographer on Enemy of the State for Tony Scott, Mathieson photographed the film Plunkett & Macleane for Jake Scott.
While working on television commercials for RSA Films in London, Tony Scott became aware of Mathieson. After contributing to the visual effects cinematography of Enemy of the State directed by Tony Scott, Mathieson took photographs for Jake Scott's film Plunkett & Macleane.