Planning life after a windfall is a fantasy for most people.
But when Wanaka art philanthropist Fiona Campbell (39) sold her shares in Sam Morgan's Trade Me internet auction site she had to give some serious thought to "what now?"
Mr Morgan sold his company in 2006 for $750 million and Ms Campbell was one of several small investors who received several million dollars.
She hired two trucks and bought $1.8 million worth of art, formed the Real Art Road Show Charitable Trust and sent three full-time staff forth into the world to share her booty with children.
Being able to live "with the wherewithal to think beyond the survival stuff" is something the former graphic designer and glass-caster never imagined as a seventh-form art pupil at Wellington High School.
Her art interests were nurtured that year by artist and teacher Rob McLeod and they are still friends, as well as board members of the Real Art Road Show Charitable Trust board and the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa.
"I reckon most people dream of winning Lotto. But I always had a fairly comfortable and creative life, so I didn't put much thought into winning the proverbial Lotto. But once you get the chance [to answer the question], it's quite nice.
"There is only so much money a family needs to put food on the table. What are you going to do with it then? It gets boring, having the money sitting in the bank . . . and I feel really excited about putting it back into the community," Ms Campbell says.
The mobile galleries have now visited 336 of New Zealand's 6000 schools, being seen by more than 150,000 pupils.
Ms Campbell's inspiration is musician Gary Brain, who toured New Zealand schools for more than two decades and shared his musical passions with over a million school children.
He is a family friend and helped launch her road show in 2009.
Ms Campbell is totally focused on her road show after stepping away from her career as a glass-caster, although she still enjoys attending her favourite summer art school in Wanganui.
She realised she enjoyed the wax stage of the casting process (essentially, creating the holes for the glass) far more than the casting.
"That says I should probably be on concept and leave the making to people more patient and skilled than I am," she laughed.
When she set up the road show four years ago, she thought 30 paintings per truck would be enough, but she found much lively talent among mid-career New Zealand artists and did not stop buying until she had more than 60 art works packed into each of the vehicles.
Her favourites pieces are works by 1960s Maori artist Buck Nin (1942-1966) and teacher and artist Patrick Hanly (1932-2004).
She also has works by Otago artists Jeffrey Harris and Ralph Hotere.
The project has provided her with rewarding, personal growth and she hopes it will do the same for children.
With three young boys in her life - sons Carlin (11) and Neco (7) and stepson Leo (10) - she sometimes wonders if children are oblivious to art, but then the boys say or do things that make her realise they are not.
"They are pretty visually aware. They come home with lovely art projects. I am a proud mum who loves to frame up their art works," she said.
She was thrilled to find school children would return to the trucks several times to view things they missed on their first walk through.
"It's not a straight-forward hang. They have to go on a treasure hunt," she said.
"Also, kids like a Pandora's box of treats, rather than one painting isolated on a white wall."
"Art can be aloof. I think it is nice for art to be part of every day life, jam-packed in."
Last year, Ms Campbell remodelled the business, after discovering the road show was not economically sustainable.
"It is a philanthropic programme, so it would be nice to make it self-sustaining and I am in the early stages of developing a business model on that."
She made the tough call to make two of the three full-time staff redundant and this year she and partner Brian Heward will be taking the road show to schools themselves.
But the lifestyle of a trucker appeals.
"I do it for the magic of giving people a vision, helping them think big ... it will be really awesome. I am really, really looking forward to it because we have sleeping facilities on the truck," she said.
As part of the restructuring, she also formed a board of volunteer directors, including Wellington supporters Sharon Payne, of angel investment company Movac, Frank Aldridge, of Integral Group and Rob McLeod, her former art teacher.
She no longer hires vehicles and will use a truck and trailer during terms 2 and 3.
During term four, she will rent out the entire exhibition and try to find paying jobs for the vehicle.
And eventually Ms Campbell hopes to find gallery space in Wanaka so all the paintings can be enjoyed by the public.
Wanaka has about 7000 residents but does not have a public art gallery and Ms Campbell would love to see one grow from her collection.
She does not like to see art locked away for private enjoyment and she knows regional art galleries provide cultural enrichment in small communities.
Gore's Eastern Southland Gallery, which holds the John Money collection, springs to mind, as does Waikanae's proactive Mahara Gallery.
"Mahara Gallery is known as the little gallery that could, because it puts on great exhibitions and it's such an interesting cultural promotion in such a small community, that reaches out around the region. And they do it on such a tiny budget in a council area that loves talking about roading and sewerage. But it is exciting. Things are now starting to happen there and it's getting council support. They are just about to do an extension," she said.
Ms Campbell has already had approaches from Wanaka and Queenstown people regarding a public gallery but says it will take time and patience before the community - intensely focused on building sports facilities - swings in behind.
Anywhere in New Zealand, there would always be an uphill battle to get community-funded art facilities, she said.
"Look at overseas, for example at the Irish, where they have special benefits so artists are not [hard up] all the time. Or the United States patrons schemes ... We are just a different kettle of fish.
"I heard John Walker raised $3 million in one speech at a dinner. I would love just one-third of that to come art's way," she said.
Since being appointed to the board of the Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa, in December last year, Ms Campbell has become immersed in national arts issues.
The biggest challenge the museum board faces is refreshing Te Papa's elderly exhibitions in Wellington.
Another challenge is making national treasures more accessible to the regions.
