The art school graduate is holding an pop-up exhibition at Medinelli’s in Gourock until October 11 from 11am until 6pm each day.
Her art is inspired by the landscapes and light of the Clyde coast, and her work reflects her deep connection to the area, in particular the water.
Heather says the exhibition has given her a chance to showcase her passion after years working in other fields.
She added: “I was brought up in Gourock, went to Gourock High School, and then I went to Glasgow School of Art.
“[Many of my paintings] are all really inspired by the Clyde, one looks across the Holy Loch and many are up and down the coast.
“I love painting boats and nautical themes.”
Heather Thomson’s Gourock exhibition. (Image: George Munro)
She said she started to truly appreciate Gourock’s views of the Clyde on her return to the coast after studying and working away from home.
After art school Heather worked as a designer for around 15 years but her work mostly involved producing technical drawings.
A return to education and another degree followed, taking her on ‘a bit of a tangent’ into property management where she ended up spending her days on spreadsheets, budgets and project management.
She said she felt something was missing during this period and she was pulled back to the canvas.
Heather Thomson’s Gourock exhibition. (Image: George Munro)
She rediscovered her love of watercolour painting and said the medium is ideal for the subject she was drawn to.
Heather said: “About 15 years ago, I thought, I want to go back to what I originally set out to do, and I joined the Greenock art club.
“I started with watercolour again just because I had loved it when I was growing up, so it’s just come on from there.
“Water lends itself to watercolour, of course, and the paintings are all different, but it’s really all about finding the light.
“I think with watercolour, a lot of people are quite delicate with watercolour, and that’s nice but I love colour and I tend to go in quite bright.
“I gravitate towards finding the drama from the light that’s coming through in the scenes.”
Her portfolio also includes floral, still life, and animal studies and a beautiful portrait of her 95-year-old mother who was born and raised in Gourock.