# Judy Woods
*Abstract artist, painting coach*

Judy Woods is a New Zealand-based painter whose artistic journey is as rich and layered as her works. After graduating from the Otago Polytechnic School of Fine Arts in 1985 and later embarking on a 15-year teaching career, Judy committed to nurturing the next generation of artists with passion and dedication. Her return to painting in 2016 marked a pivotal shift towards full-time artistry, exploring abstract and intuitive painting, and reveling in the unpredictability of the creative process.Judy's art transcends traditional boundaries, focusing on elevating the mundane through mixed media and collage, incorporating everything from studio scraps to cherished stamps from her father's collection. Her ethos mirrors her life philosophy—embracing risk, curiosity, and the beauty of the unplanned. Judy's work is an invitation to explore the interplay between discipline and spontaneity, the intentional and the accidental.Judy has won both national and international art awards; most recently, she was awarded the Abstract/Non-Objective Award at the Tasman National Art Awards. She has exhibited most notably at Nuart Gallery, Santa Fe in 2021, and the Signature Contemporary Gallery in London in 2022. Currently, Judy is dedicated to helping students from around the world create authentic and joyful art through her engaging online courses.Check out her website at judywoodsart.work or follow her on Instagram @judywoods_artist.

**Connect:** [Website](https://www.judywoodsart.work/) · [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/JudyWoodsart/) · [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/judywoods_artist/?hl=en)

## Retreats led by Judy Woods

### Telling Your Story through Abstract Art Retreat with Artist Judy Woods in France
May 21 - 28, 2026 · Teyssode, Occitanie, France · $4,100
Instructors: Judy Woods
[Details](https://uptrek.com/ai/content/retreat/telling-your-story-through-abstract-art-retreat-artist-judy-woods-france) · [Book on uptrek.com →](https://uptrek.com/retreat/telling-your-story-through-abstract-art-retreat-artist-judy-woods-france#book)

### Finding Freedom in Abstract Art Retreat with Artist Judy Woods in Spain
May 11 - 18, 2026 · Níjar, Almería, Spain · $4,800
Instructors: Judy Woods
[Details](https://uptrek.com/ai/content/retreat/finding-freedom-abstract-art-retreat-artist-judy-woods-spain) · [Book on uptrek.com →](https://uptrek.com/retreat/finding-freedom-abstract-art-retreat-artist-judy-woods-spain#book)

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**Last updated:** 2026-02-25