Introduction Time…

HW is me: Heather Westbrook, a 40-something photographer and designer based in Hilo, Hawaiʻi with artisan and adventurer in her bloodline. In 2023, these two sides of me decided that they didn't have to be at odds with each other. After such a simple yet mind blowing thought, HW Designs was born to explore nature in art and art in nature, capture and highlight the beauty in the natural world and culture, and share its essence through creativity and education.

Q: How do you describe your work?

I’m drawn to nature and to the quiet structures that shape it—patterns, forms, relationships—and how we see and are inspired by them. My work explores nature in art and art in nature, capturing the beauty of the natural world and everyday culture, and sharing its essence through creativity and education.

Q: Where did your creative journey begin?

I was born and raised in Michigan, and my earliest artistic memories involve drawing Disney characters as a child. I didn’t step into a formal art class until my junior year of college, but once I did, everything clicked. I graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Photography, which gave me both a technical foundation and a new way of seeing.

Q: Your path weaves together art and outdoor adventure. How did that evolve?

My career took many unexpected turns. I found myself leading others on backcountry adventures and working in outdoor education, often being asked to tap into design skills I’d picked up from a single graphic design class—back when Photoshop hadn’t even reached its CS phase.

While earning my Master’s Degree in Outdoor Teaching Education in Tennessee, I ran the Outdoor Adventure Program for the undergraduate student body. Designing the adventure trip catalog and all of the program’s marketing materials kept my artistic side active, even while my days were rooted in the outdoors.

Q: What brought you to Hawaiʻi, and how did that shape your work?

I moved to Hawaiʻi in 2015, and living here deeply reshaped how I think about place, culture, and responsibility as an artist. In October of 2022, I entered my first juried art show, The Trash Art Show, at the East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center. That experience marked an important moment of claiming space as an artist.

In 2023, I had a simple but mind-blowing realization: the artisan and the adventurer in me didn’t have to be at odds with each other. That realization gave birth to HW Designs.

Q: What is HW Designs?

HW Designs is where all of my worlds come together. It’s a creative practice rooted in curiosity, observation, and respect for place. Through photography, pattern, and design, I explore the beauty of the natural world and culture, with a strong focus on education and storytelling.

Q: You work extensively with macro photography. What draws you to that scale?

Macro photography is an avenue of wonder for me. It invites us to slow down and look closer, to reconnect with the things around us. When you really look, even the smallest details reveal stories, patterns, and relationships that often go unnoticed. It reawakens our desire to understand.

Q: Can you tell us about the Kamaʻāina Collection?

The Kamaʻāina Collection is inspired by the Hawaiian quilt. Each design contains a repeating pattern that, when viewed closely, unlocks a story about Hawaiʻi—its land, its ecosystems, and its rich culture. The work is about honoring place and encouraging deeper observation and connection.

Painted Turtle. Photo by Becky Houser

Q: Your newsletter is called The Painted Turtle.

Why that name?

Ah…yes. Let the story begin… 

In 2015, I moved to Hawaii; a place known for its tropical breezes, beaches, volcanic mountains, and the Honu, green sea turtles. Honu are beautiful creatures whether sunning on the shores or swimming freely in the ocean. Rewind to the first 17 years of my life, I lived in Michigan, a hidden gem filled with so much of its own natural beauty: glistening Great Lakes, miles of sandy shorelines, winding rivers, and woodlands. Painted turtles are the state reptile of Michigan and can be seen sunning on the logs and rocks of the rivers and ponds. I love Hawaii. I love Michigan. Both are a part of me. Both are my home and both have…turtles. 

Q: You seem to identify strongly with turtles. Why is that?

Turtles and I have always had a special bond. When people ask what animal I’m most like, I always say turtle. I’m a reserved person and it takes intentional self-talk to come out of my shell—that protective layer feels permanently fused to my structure. I’m also a slow mover. I can take very small steps while being fully aware of how little ground I’m covering. Some days, I just want to lie on the earth, let my mind wander, and create entire worlds in my imagination. And then—something shifts.Like stepping off the edge of a bank, I suddenly move fast. I get bursts of energy and momentum, like a turtle swimming freely through water. (Fun fact: honu can swim up to 22 mph for short distances.) When the conditions are right, it’s amazing what I can create. I often surprise myself.

Q: What can readers expect from The Painted Turtle newsletter?

The Painted Turtle won’t flood your inbox. But when movement is happening—when ground is being covered, ideas are forming, and creativity is flowing—you’ll probably hear from me.

The newsletter may include studio updates, new product previews, exclusive discounts, upcoming events, or small, thoughtful bits and bobs. At its core, The Painted Turtle reflects my zest for nature, education, art, and creativity—shared in intentional, sometimes-fast-sometimes-slow, persistent, colorful strokes.

Q: Where can people find your work?

You can explore my work, learn about upcoming markets and events, and connect with me at www.hwdesigns.info or on Instagram @h.w.designstudio. The Kamaʻāina Collection is also available on fabric and wallpaper through the print-on-demand website Spoonflower.com at @hw_designs.