Our President, Val Donkervoort, has been a member of the Committee for eight years, and President of the Society for one and a half years.   She finds being President both challenging and rewarding. 
Val has been painting for at least twelve years and enjoys watercolours, acrylic and mixed media.    She tries not to paint in the same style each time, but pushes herself to go outside her comfort zone. She says art should be challenging and exciting. She loves the movement of watercolours, the strong colours of acrylic, and the textures of mixed media.
Val also teaches beginners and intermediate artists in watercolours and acrylic where she enjoys seeing her pupils emerge and grow in their art.   She also runs workshops on mixed media.

Val was the runner up in the Tauranga Society of Artists' Supreme Art Award 2008, judged by international artist Kate Jones Madill.  Val is a successful artist and has had three private exhibitions. Val has sold locally and within New Zealand and many of her works have gone overseas to Canada, England, Wales, Ireland and Australia.