Freelance writer, author and speaker, Sylvia Vetta took up writing and broadcasting on art and antiques in 1998 when she began writing features for the award winning magazine of The Oxford Times. She went on to write for four magazines on art, history and science-related events. Sylvia Vetta has a lifelong passion for China. Her extensive interviews with Stars art movement founder, Qu Leilei, inspired her to write Brushstrokes in Time. Her long-running profile series, Oxford Castaways, has been compiled into two books. Reflecting her interest in China, castaway interviewees have included Lord Patten of Barnes, the last governor of Hong Kong; Dame Jessica Rawson, the curator of prestigious exhibitions on China; Dr Maria Jaschok, who lived in China from 1979-1995; and Oxford-based artist Weimin He.