Meet Laura Hewetson
Creative Artist and Tutor
Artist & mixed media maker who loves creative exploration
Lover of cinema, Weta Workshop painter (yep- film nerd living the dream)
Founder of Rebel Heart Creative Club (art classes and workshops)
Creating under Apple Tree Studio (my personal art collection)
Special FX Makeup under This Is Laura Susan FX
Community builder who brings people together through art
Champion of all things visual and performing arts!
Checkout my some of work or follow me directly
Hi, I’m Laura!
I’ve been creative for as long as I can remember… if there was an art room, music space, or drama class nearby, that’s exactly where you’d find me.
I originally headed off to study media arts at uni, but everything changed after watching The Lord of the Rings. I completely fell in love with film and storytelling, switched my degree to Film and Theatre Studies, and then went even further down the rabbit hole with an Advanced Diploma in Special Effects Makeup and Creature Design (combining my love of visual arts with film/theatre arts!).
That passion led me to Wellington, where I worked in a performing arts venue before landing a dream role at Weta Workshop in the paint department. I spent my days painting weapons and armour for films like The Hobbit, Man of Steel, and Elysium - some of the best times of my life!
After my time at Weta, I continued my studies, adding a post-grad in Digital Design to my experience.
Life shifted (as it does), and after starting a family and spending some time in Thailand volunteering with an NGO, we made our way back to New Zealand and settled in North Canterbury.
Since then, my creative journey has taken lots of exciting turns. I co-founded NEST Arts Collective in Amberley, created my own at home studio in my boys old playhouse (hence ‘Apple tree Studio’ was born) and now create as a resident artist at FOLD Studio & Gallery in Rangiora. Along the way I’ve been lucky to work across film, stage (including World of Wearable Art), WILD IN ART public art trails, and teaching special effects makeup workshops in schools across Canterbury.
These days, my workshops run under Rebel Heart Creative Club - a space all about breaking the rules, exploring creativity, and making art your own way.
I’m a bit of a “jack of all trades” when it comes to creativity - and I love it that way. Whether it’s painting, making, performing, or songwriting, creativity has always been at the heart of what I do.
And now, I’m here to help you explore yours - without pressure, perfection, or rules. Just curiosity, creativity, and a bit of fun along the way.
