Heather Matthews
M.B.E,BFA
I have worked in art related fields since leaving school, as an
architectural draughtsperson, display artist and interior
designer.
My love of art was set aside to follow an international athletic
career as one of New Zealand‘s top middle distance runners.
I represented New Zealand from 1969 through to 1992
under my former married name, Heather Thomson. I was New Zealand record and titleholder in the 3,000
metres, 1 mile and cross-country, and was Commonwealth
Games silver medallist in the 3,000m in Edmonton, Canada in
1978.
On retiring from sport I went back to my first love…art,
and gained a fine arts degree, majoring in painting from
Whitecliffe. I moved to Tindalls Bay in 2008 and now
teach art to adults from “Art Lab” at the Whangaparaoa hall.
Colour is my main focus, and acrylic my medium of
preference.