Local Artist…Heidi Hereth from Bondi

By James Hutton on February 18, 2022 in People

Heidi hard at work in her office. Photo: Daniela Benussi

Randwick’s Heidi Hereth is the local artist behind this month’s cover. She shares her local favourites with The Beast…

How long have you lived here? Around 50 years – people come up to me saying I sketched them when they were kids!

Why do you live here? I was studying graphic design at Randwick Tech in the ‘70s and my partner studied biophysics at UNSW, so we moved to Coogee. We loved the area, so we bought a block of land in Randwick (still within walking distance of Coogee Beach) and built a house with our own hands and the help of friends. We got married and we still live there, although the place is showing signs of wear and tear, as are we all.

What’s your favourite beach? Coogee. I enjoy the ‘family’ of friends who always look out for one another and share the joys of the beach, no matter the weather. I also love Little Bay.
What’s your favourite eatery? Gelatissimo. It’s great to eat a gelato on my way home from a hard day’s work at the beach.

Best thing about the Eastern Suburbs? The beautiful coast. People come here for a holiday, and it’s ours to enjoy the year round. We are very lucky! Unfortunately the State Government is trying to ruin the area for the locals (punishing them for voting Labor) through overdevelopment and ruining public transport. Consequently, parking has become a real headache.

How would you describe your art? Quite varied. Sometimes, when I’m painting seascapes, it’s loosely realistic. When painting things from my imagination I paint in a stylised manner. I usually use watercolour or acrylic paints.

Where can people see your work? I’m having a solo exhibition at the Waverley Library Galleries in Spring Street, Bondi Junction, which closes on March 9. You can also check my website, www.heidihereth.com.

Who are your artistic inspirations? Norman Lindsay, Neil Taylor, William Robinson and the creatures in the sea.

Any other local artists to look out for? Artists of the Randwick Art Society, of which I am a member. Their Annual Arts & Crafts Exhibition is on at Little Bay from April 29 to May 1. I’ll have a few paintings there too.

What are you working on at the moment? A painting of a fiddler ray, accompanied by flute fish. It’s a bit of a musical fantasy.

When did you discover you had a gift for your craft? I loved drawing since I was three years old.

Did you study art? I only did a smattering of ‘fine art’ in my first year before specialising in graphic design at Randwick Technical College.

Any words of wisdom for young aspiring artists? Never be without a sketch book and pen, and use them whenever you can! You will never get bored, you will improve your skills and you will make many friends.

What do you get up to on the weekends? These days it’s mainly gardening and sketching ‘models’ on the beach, interspersed with snorkelling. I hope the dinner parties and concerts will come back soon.

What do you do for work? I paint. I love what I do, especially when I do it on the beach, my outdoor studio. Painting is like meditation, and when I need a break I snorkel in the sea and come back refreshed and full of new ideas.

Any other words of wisdom for readers of The Beast? Look for beauty in the things and people around you. Have a positive attitude.