Tracey Rudduck-Gudsell didn't fall in love with the arts until she was an adult. Since then she's changed into a colourful enthusiast with a passion for all things bright and beautiful ...
Tracey Rudduck-Gudsell's decision to wear black was for the purpose of a formal function later in the evening.
It soon emerged, however, the black guise and cross pendant was also a link to her past.
As a child, she wanted to be a nun.
"I had a Catholic school upbringing and I was in awe of nuns, I just loved them."
What happened?
"Puberty and boys," she lists.
Nowadays, Rudduck-Gudsell is a little more rebellious.
Following on from the purple rose she had inked on her buttocks for her 30th birthday, she is considering getting a ta moko for her 50th in January.
I tell her she doesn't look old enough to be hitting that milestone.
The birthday ta moko would reflect her Irish heritage and probably be inked on her arm.
"I'd like to be able to see it because the one I've got, I don't see.
"My children see, and my mother scolded me when she saw it - even though I was 30," she says, a smile playing around her lips.
"It won't be on my face or anything. I won't be doing one of those."
Always look and feel good
Truth be told, Rudduck-Gudsell loves being decorated. She has a love affair with jewellery.
"I'm a bit of a magpie," she jokes.
When I meet her she is also head-to-toe in designer wear.
A Repertoire jacket and skirt by Lee Kleiman complement a Vicki Reid shirt, from Oyl.
It is a Rudduck-Gudsell mantra to always look and feel good.
She is soon to become the "new face" of Tauranga label Molly May, developed by Jules Bly and Tania Greenwood of La De Da Boutique.
For her photo in Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, she confides that she nearly wore a dress that looks "like paint has been splashed over it".
Sounds fabulous.
Not arty-farty at school
She likes to be different.
Her clothes are an extension of her personality, says manager of Repertoire in Tauranga, Lesley Harrsion.
"She is an extraordinary woman with extraordinary style.
"She comes alive in her clothing. Her personality blooms in a room," she says.
Originally from Wanganui, Rudduck-Gudsell has been at Creative Tauranga for seven years.
She grew up hanging out in the Wanganui quad that is home to a museum, memorial hall and art gallery.
"It was just where the youth used to gather. In those days - God, I'm sounding old - we didn't have a lot of what they've got now, so you made your entertainment."
Surprisingly, she was not arty-farty at school.
"I always had an interest I suppose but, even in art classes at school, I never really participated.
"It probably sprang from the seven years I lived in London."
Rudduck-Gudsell arrived in the mother country as a green-eyed, wide-eyed little thing.
It was 1981. The Brixton riot saw a confrontation between the Metropolitan Police and protesters in Lambeth.
"We were locked in our flat for a couple of days, because the Irish were trying to bomb the prison around the road as well, and it was just all go.
"I still remember ringing mum and she was seeing stuff on the TV and freaking out. I was just pretty much in awe of it all, really."
Where Mary Quant started out
In London, she developed her passion for the arts.
"We had the Brixton Academy and I used to go and see a lot of bands there. There used to be a lot of Aussie bands there - the Hoodoo Gurus were there and probably names you don't even know - James Reyne and Cold Chisel.
"I've always loved architecture, though, and history ... I went to where Mary Quant started out, because I'm quite interested in fashion and make-up and all that sort of thing.
"I just enjoyed sitting in airports or bus stops and watching people. Loved that."
After travelling around Europe, she returned to New Zealand and had a host of top jobs before finding her niche as chief executive of Creative Tauranga. This is the longest job she has had.
"It feeds my passion," she says. "Every day someone comes through the door with their dream or their passion and we build off that with them.
"It inspires us with what we do as well."
Painted a plate for charity
She gives the example of Mount Maunganui's Judy Scrivener (now Judy Alvos), who started up the internationally successful swimwear brand Expozay. Expozay had front covers on Vogue, Dolly, Cleo, Sports Illustrated and Fashion Quarterly.
"[Judy's] just started producing clothing for young men. She came in and said: 'My creativity has taken me back on this creative journey, is there a story there?' Well, hell yes. Everybody who is from here remembers Judy and her label."
Rudduck-Gudsell's own creative talent extends to her clothing, her house, and she once painted a plate.
"The mayor and a whole lot of celebrities painted a plate for charity and someone bought mine. I was chuffed to pieces."
She reads.
"I'm one of those horrible people that has a couple of books on the go at once." She is also a "cookbook-oholic".
"We were raised in hotels.
"We got to experience kitchens and cooking for masses and dressing up dishes. I was fascinated by that."
She writes. "My family is blended and I'd like to write a book for children on how to cope with that. Because you know, it's a growing trend."
Lots of empathy
Friend, workmate and bridesmaid Denny Spee has lovely Rudduck-Gudsell stories.
"She's so caring. Anyone that comes in here, she goes: 'Oooh, look.' She buys any raffle ticket from anyone that comes in. People that sell things, she buys, even if she doesn't want them. She has lots of empathy.
"If I've got a cold, she'll mix up little medicine thingies for me.
"Nothing is too much of a problem. You can count on her. I can text her at any strange hour and go 'Tracey, guess what's happened?' And she'll go 'Okay, shall we do this?"'
Rudduck-Gudsell's workmates are "my family when I'm away from my family".
It is just so damn beautiful here
She called on her "family" for guidance when I landed her with this task: To complete our interview, she must finish these sentences.
Don't be afraid to ... Write your bucket list.
When it comes to colour in my home ... It's in our artworks and homeware.
My children love ... Having their friends over.
My pets are ... Minnie and Milo, the chocolate Burmese cats.
I like to collect ... Cookbooks, jewellery, polka dot china.
I couldn't live without ... Family (husband Phill, kids Oliver and Kayla), friends and books.
What I most like about Creative Tauranga is ... Exploring a different creative journey every day. People's passions and dreams.
I love living in Tauranga because ... It is just so damn beautiful here.
I am inspired by ... Creativity.
Something you would never guess about me is ... I am a Rotarian.
If you looked in my fridge you would find ... A deli.
My wardrobe has mostly ... Frocks and boots.
The most indispensable thing in my office is ... My amazing team.
The most outrageous thing I have ever done is ... Get a tattoo.
I like to shop at ... Repertoire and La De Da are my favourites because they offer such a different shopping experience and a real treat. Where else can you buy a frock and a vase? I also love the gorgeous new Tilly and Tiffen, The Good Food Company, Tres Chic.
My favourite artists are ... Annie Lennox, Randy Crawford, Dame Helen Mirren. Locally, I love them all - especially the children.
My most artistic skill is ... Cooking.
I can't live without ... Laughter.
If I could write a letter to my 16-year-old self, the words of advice I would offer are ... Hang on honey, it's going to be quite a ride!