The team
Meet the Real Art Roadshow team
The team
The founders
Fiona Campbell
Founder, trustee, director and co-curator
Fiona founded the Real Art Roadshow after experiencing some good financial fortune, motivated by her desire to make contemporary art more accessible and to share her love of it with a broader audience.
A lifelong visual arts enthusiast, Fiona first trained as a graphic designer before retraining as a glass caster, running her own studio on the Kapiti Coast for a decade. She then developed and managed the Roadshow for ten years, applying the insights she gained during that time to her three-year term on the Te Papa board. Fiona has since returned to making art and pursuing higher art education, accumulating years and additional qualifications at Massey University in Wellington.
Rob McLeod
Former trustee, education advisor and co-curator
As an influential art educator, Rob was instrumental in shaping this collection into more than just a display of interesting art in a truck. He played a key role in selecting pieces that would resonate with secondary school students, aligning the choices with the NCEA art syllabus to enhance art education.
Rob studied at Glasgow Art School from 1965 to 1969. In 1972, he moved to New Zealand, where he worked in various studios in Wellington until 2024. Recently, he relocated north to Auckland to be closer to his family and has established a new studio there. Rob continues to enjoy painting and the occasional beer.
Gerald Barnett
Co-curator
With extensive experience in public art and as a practicing artist, Gerald was brought on board to help choose artworks that would engage students.
Gerald Barnett’s career includes roles at the National Art Gallery (before Te Papa), the Colin McCahon Trust, and as former director of Mahara Gallery on the Kapiti Coast. He is the author of Toss Woollaston: an Illustrated Biography (1992) and The Road to Turanga: Leo Fowler’s Gisborne Years (2019), and has contributed to publications such as Art New Zealand, Landfall, and The New Zealand Listener. Now living in Australia, Gerald said, “it was a privilege to be part of the RAR project. And I am sure the kids who experienced the ‘Tardis’ art truck will never forget it.”
Paul Forrest
Trustee, educator, advisor
Paul’s passion for art and his enthusiasm for sharing it with students were vital in the Roadshow’s later success.
For 35 years, Paul has been a professional artist based in Newtown, Wellington. He has exhibited widely, participated in numerous artist residencies, and his work is held in private collections both in New Zealand and overseas. Since 2015, his practice has focused on fostering awareness of the natural environment. Drawing on skills gained as an educator with the Real Art Roadshow, Paul has taught advanced, nature-based drawing skills to hundreds of young artists aged 5–10 at two local primary schools, which he counts among his greatest achievements.
A huge shout-out to our Drivers
Possum Heward (driver and transport coordinator)
Ray Millar
Robert Gibson
Roy Hurndell
Steve Sowman
Many thanks to the Volunteers
Alex Theron
Annie Roach
Caroline Della Porta
Gary Freemantle
James Moore
Jenniffer Burrows
Lucy Holland
Lyndsay Patterson
Kassie McLuskie
Martin Islas
Padma Naidu
Paul Forrest
Paul Kerridge
Rachel Sears
Robyn Urquhart
Sarah Brown
Sarah Burke
Sarah Malone
Sonja Hart
Susan Matthews
Teresa Worthy
Yona Lee
And thank you to our former staff and helpers
Without you, the project would have been much harder than it was
Anderson Design (Trailer build)
Catherine Scollay (Advice and support)
Chris Johnson (Shed building and security)
Eric Fischl (International encouragement)
Frank Aldridge (Part time Director)
Gary Brain (School touring inspiration)
Joy Wilkie (Schools Coordinator)
Kim Hill (Enthusiastic support on Radio New Zealand)
Mahara Gallery Director Janet Bayly (Our spiritual ‘home’ gallery)
Mark Roach (Carting the art)
Ministry of Education (Providing motivational roadblocks)
Mission Hall Creative (Branding and support)
National Science Technology Trust (Early project haulage)
Paul McCredie (Photographing the art)
Peter Trevelyan (DVD filming of the artists)
Richard Burge (Accountant to the Stars)
Rob Cherry (Hanging the shows at the Mahara Gallery)
Robyn Baker (Support and expertise)
School Principals, Deputy Principals and Art HODs (Enthusiastic support)
Sharon Paine (Part time Director)
Tanya Price (Project Manager)
The Queen (Giver of medals)
Warbirds and Wheels Museum (Off-season art display and storage)
Warren Ixer (Framing extraordinaire)
The team behind the tour
At our first school visit
Our first team of drivers
Strong bonds form on the road
