My name's Natacha Riou.

Just like many others, art has always been a massive part of my life. The peaceful escape I needed after a day of exploring a new country and speaking a language I barely knew. Art was a quick way for me to connect with Kiwis, and luckily for me they enjoyed my art and even wanted to learn from me. Soon enough, I was selling artwork, participating in art exhibitions and teaching art (and French) throughout my week.

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Now I teach art classes full time here in Napier, and have been lucky enough to be selected for various exhibitions and events across Hawke's Bay. Including, the Creative Arts Napier exhibitions, the Hawke's Bay Art Guide Trails (2023, 2024 & 2025), 2024 Out of the Blue, and many more. 

We French all have our tales of love... If I'd looked at myself in the mirror 15 years ago, I never would've imagined the hopeless romantic staring back at me would soon be living and working fulltime as an artist in New Zealand.

Well that's exactly where my journey takes me. When 2019 came around, I was packing my bags, heading to the opposite side of the world, and reuniting with my now husband in New Zealand. Leaving the country I grew up in, my home, my friends and my family, to come to a country I had only visited a handful of times was all very hard.