The Nelson School of Visual Arts graduate began his painting career with an exhibition at Chez Eelco, Nelson, in 1991. He has exhibited throughout the country since 2002.
Hayward said he chose to settle in the isolated northern West Coast township to bring focus to his work without distractions.
''I have chosen materials in order to demonstrate that they can still be useful,'' he said in his artist's statement.
''The poverty of the material is not necessarily a symbol. Rather, it is a pretext for painting.
Maori artists
CM2012 continues its run upstairs in Toi o Tahuna Fine Art Gallery until mid-February.
''Contemporary Maori 2012'' was the first in an annual showcase of the gallery's stable of artists and displayed 15 works including drawings, paintings, sculpture and lightbox, owner Mark Moran said.
The exhibition features six artists - Israel Birch, of Hastings, Paratene Matchitt, of Napier, Albert McCarthy, of Rangiora, Liam Te Nahu, of Hamilton, Roi Toia, of Rotorua, and Michael Parekowhai, whose $1.32 million ''upside-down elephant'' raised eyebrows at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art last month.
