Heather Byers was born in Belfast. She attended Sullivan Upper School in Belfast and studied at Belfast College of Art and Hornsey College of Art, London, under John Norris Wood, specialising in scientific, medical and technical illustration.
Heather worked as a freelance designer for several textile companies in Dublin, Belfast and Portadown. Before beginning to paint for galleries and exhibitions, she also worked for the Ulster Museum, producing fish and fauna illustrations. Heather is a member of the Art Society of Ulster and ISBA (wild flowers) and has exhibited at the Royal Ulster Academy.
A lot of Heather’s work is influenced by nature and her strength as an illustrator and she enjoys drawing flora and fauna in a miniscule style. She also enjoys producing detailed abstract work.
Heather’s son, Phillip loved the mice that she painted. In his memory, she produced two detailed paintings (full of birds and animals), which she donated to Belmont Primary School and the Allen Ward RVHSC. Through him she says, she lives for her art.