In 1979, Tina Matthews joined an all-girl group, The Wide Mouthed Frogs in Wellington, playing bass guitar.
In 1982 Matthews moved to Sydney, where she worked with master puppet makers Ross Hill, Beverley Campbell-Jackson and Peter Chester and director Richard Bradshaw at the Marionette Theatre of Australia.
During the 1980s Matthews honed her skills by working on the Jim Henson movie Labyrinth, starring David Bowie.
[13] It is about a young girl growing up over an autumn afternoon and the strongest themes are family, love of nature and independence.
[15] In 2017 Matthews self published Do What You're Doing, a read aloud, sing along story for the classroom, library or home about the perils of digital distraction and compulsive multi-tasking and the pleasures of giving something your undivided attention.
As well as creating picture books Matthews has taught puppetry at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) in Sydney for many years.