Pamela Matthews
Pamela Matthews

For her entire working life (from the early1960’s – the numbers start to scare you after a while!), Pamela has earned her living entirely from her art, initially as a graphic artist in a Wellington department store before moving across the Tasman sea to the advertising department of the more prestigious David Jones emporium in Sydney, Australia.

Here is a time-line over-view of her career:

1960’s:

Department store graphics as above, then self-employed as a graphic and décor artist

1973:

Began painting Visionary Surrealism

1975-77:

First solo exhibition
Travelled to the U.K. & Europe, studied in the galleries and painted in London where she rediscovered the pre-Raphaelite Burne-Jones and Blake, mystical poet and artist.
Inspired in Florence by the art of da Vinci, Lippi and Botticelli

1978-88:

Became an artist member of the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts, exhibited around NZ
Presented workshops
Taught art & calligraphy
Illustrated calendars, book & magazine covers, CD’s
Published first book – “Eyes to See”

1990’s:

Artist Director of Grail Graphics (1992) Ltd: on-going role
Produced wide range of products for international distribution:
Cards, Bookmarks, Prints, Posters, Goddess Decks etc
Presented workshops in New Zealand, Australia, USA, England, Denmark & Sweden

2001:

Exhibited mosaics and sculpture (Ellerslie Flower Show)

2003-05:

Commissioned to paint Aura-Soma New Aeon Tarot Deck – 105 original paintings – kept me off the streets for two years!

2006-07:

Visionary Art Exhibitions in St Ives and London
Conference & Workshop Presenter Glastonbury Goddess Festival

2008-14:

Resident Artist/Director Grail Gallery, Waiheke Island, New Zealand