About

 
‘I see each image representing a moment of stillness within the constant motion of creation and life in general – fragile, beautiful and ephemeral, as is our human experience.  In my own quiet way, I hope to influence the way the viewer observes the world around them – to notice, and take delight, in the small details.’

A visual expression of my own quiet experiences the work of each day usually begins with a walk. Immersed in my surroundings I explore the treasures and details of nature often collecting found objects, providing a tangible link to the landscape in which I live. I observe the colours, lines, textures, shapes and patterns of the environment, drawing on them constantly in my creative process.

My process usually begins with monotypes: I use physical specimens of different plants (mostly fynbos), seaweed and other natural finds to create prints on various papers including rice paper and teabags. Led by the materials at hand I use a variety of additional techniques like drawing, stitching, collage, assemblage and painting (often with wax), creating an intimate response to my surrounds.

I have work in private collections in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, France, USA, Canada and South Africa.

I have written 13 Art ‘how to’ books – 11 of them with Angie Franke, where the motivation has been to encourage the process of art-making for those who have always wanted to participate but never had the courage.  5 adult colouring in books have also been added to bookshelves around the world – all published by Metz Press.  I teach from my studio at home and periodically run Art Retreats in the Overberg area.

During the course of my career as an artist, I’ve lectured in Bloemfontein and Johannesburg and given classes wherever I’ve lived.  I’ve completed many commissions, designed tapestries for the ‘Fibre Graphics’ exhibition at the SA Association of arts in Pretoria, and taken part in a number of group exhibitions over the years. The winner of the Art.b book arts competition in 2014, I was also included in the new ‘Collectors Guide to Art and Artists in South Africa’ (page 74) published by The South African Institute of Artists and Graphic Designers.  I’ve had 16 works selected as a finalist in The Vuleka Art Competition over a number of years (2nd place in 2016, top 5 in 2018) and a Finalist in the Tollman Bouchard Finlayson Tondo competition for the last five years.

Details of exhibitions,  publications, awards, etc:

Exhibitions:

2023

‘Look See’, RK Contemporary, Riebeek Kasteel 

Members Exhibition, Art.b gallery, Bellville

‘Art Portfolio’, Kirstenbosch, Cape Town

‘Sakpas’ – Group exhibition, Rust-en-Vrede, Durbanville

‘In-Response Art of the Space Age’, Jan Rupert Art Centre, Graaff-Reinet

The Ninety-One collection of south African Art, London

2022

‘Lush’ – RK Contemporary, Riebeek Kasteel

‘Seasons Greetings’ – ISArt, Stellenbosch

‘Phola Time’ – Art.b, Belville

‘Imagine’ – pop up exhibition, Rooi Els

‘In-Response Art of the Space Age’, Jan Rupert Art Centre, Graaff-Reinet

‘Diversity’, Rupert Museum, Stellenbosch

‘Vuleka’ Finalist Exhibition, Art.b belville

‘Solstice’, IS Art, Stellenbosch

‘The Grand’, Rust-en-Vrede, Durbanville

‘Ebb and Flow’, Fynarts Festival, Hermanus, Western Cape

‘Tiny Treasures’ Art.b, Bellville

Contemporary Cape Art, Kirstenbosch, Cape Town

‘Something Els’ Rooi Els, Western Cape

‘Whimsy’ – Group Exhibition, Rust-en-Vrede

Members exhibition Art.b, Bellville

‘Surface’ – Group exhibition, IS Art, Stellenbosch

2021

‘Surface’ – Group exhibition, IS Art, Stellenbosch

‘Secret Histories’, Art.b, Bellville

‘Celebrate Life!’, Group Exhibition, Pringle Bay

‘Out of the Blue’, GIF Gallery, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)

‘Portrait 100’ Rupert Museum, Stellenbosch (part of the top 100 in the South African Portrait Competition)

2021 Vuleka Finalists group exhibition, Art.b

2 works on the Tollman Bouchard Finlayson finalists Tondo group exhibition, Hermanus

 ‘Tiny Treasures’, Art.b

‘Breathe’  Harold Porter Botanical Garden, Betty’s Bay

‘Botanical’  IS Art, Stellenbosch

Members exhibition Art.b, Bellville

‘Home is where the Art is’,  Zeitz Mocca, Cape Town

2020

Fynbos and Fantasies, Pringle Bay

Rust en Vrede Rescue exhibition

‘Home is where the Art is’,  Zeitz Mocca, Cape Town

‘Farewell/Hamba Kahle’ IS Art and Slee Gallery, Stellenbosch

‘Apart/A part’ Art.b, Bellville

‘Design Matters’, Hermanus Fynarts Gallery

 ‘Tiny Treasures’, Art.b

Rust en Vrede ‘Art on Consignment’

RK Contemporary  ‘She’

Hermanus Fynarts online ‘Art of thread – Design Matters’ Catalogue

Art.b Online ‘Committees’ Choice plus one’ Catalogue

Members exhibition Art.b, Bellville

‘Knoop/Knot’ – IS Art, Stellenbosch

‘Summer Sale’ – Rust en Vreede, Durbanville

2019

‘Christmas Season Exhibition’ – IS Art, Franschhoek

‘Summertide’ – RK Contemporary, Riebeck Kasteel

‘Not my type’ – Imibala Gallery, Somerset West

‘Art Portfolio’ – Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Cape Town

‘Living Coral’ – Fact and Friends, Group exhibition, Constantia, Cape Town

2019 Top ten Finalists exhibition, State of the Art Gallery, Cape Town

‘Botanica’, Group exhibition, Art.b

2019 Vuleka Finalists group exhibition, Art.b – 2 works

‘Shades and Tones’ – Art of thread, Hermanus Fynarts 2019

Tondo on Tollman Bouchard Finlayson finalists group exhibition, Hermanus

‘Tiny Treasures’, art.b, Bellville art.b Members exhibition

‘Fynbos and Fantasies’, Pringle Bay

2018

‘Fynbos and Fantasies’, Pringle Bay

‘Call of the Wild’, Bright Street Gallery, Somerset West ‘

#Paper’, Art.b Bellville

‘Ten x 10’ Small Print exhibition, Rosendal Gallery, Cape Town

‘Interwoven’ – with the FACT group (Fibre Artists Cape Town), Constantia, Cape Town

Vuleka Finalists group exhibition, Art.b (Merit Award)

“The Grand” , Group exhibition at Rust en Vrede, Durbanville

“Flight”, Group exhibition of printmaking, Art.b, Bellville

“A thread runs through it – Collaborative Relationships” (two works) – part of Hermanus Fynarts

Tondo on Tollman Bouchard Finlayson finalists group exhibition

“Tiny Treasures”, Art.b, Bellville Members Exhibition, Art.b, Bellville

2017

Vuleka Finalists group exhibition, Art.b

Members Exhibition, Art.b

Art.b Vice Versa, Art.b

Tondo on Tollman Bouchard Finlayson finalists group exhibition

“Art of Threads” – part of Hermanus Fynarts

“Tiny Treasures”, Art.b

“Visual Requiem for Judith Mason” – traveling exhibition – Móinéir and Mok Galleries

2016      

Vuleka Finalists group exhibition, Art.b (placed 2nd)

“Pop up” exhibition with the Fynbos Art Route, Kleinmond

“Tiny Treasures” Members exhibition, Art.b. Belville

Tondo on Tollman Bouchard Finlayson finalists group exhibition

“Art of Threads” – part of Hermanus Fynarts Tondo,

mixed media with botanical monotypes on Vuleka Finalists group exhibition

“Playground’ Group exhibition at Moor Gallery in Franschoek

“Converse”, group exhibition Móinéir Gallery in Pringle Bay

2015                      

“Tiny Treasures” Members exhibition, Art.b. Belville

Tondo on Tollman Bouchard Finlayson finalists group exhibition

Tondo, mixed media with botanical monotypes on Vuleka Finalists group exhibition

“Pop up” Christmas exhibition with the Fynbos Art Route, Kleinmond

2014                      

Encaustic Mixed Media with monotypes on Vuleka Finalists group exhibition                

“Tiny Treasures” Members exhibition,

Art.b. Belville Book Arts competition,

Art.b, Belville (winner) group exhibition

2013

oil on board abstract landscape on Vuleka Finalists group exhibition

“Miniatures” group exhibition Rust-en-Vreede gallery, Durbanville

2012                      

3 paintings – 2 oil and 1 encaustic mixed media on Vuleka Finalists group exhibition

2009                      

2 3-dimensional mixed media works on Vuleka Finalists group exhibition

2007                      

oil painting on Vuleka Finalists group exhibition

2006                       

acrylic painting on Vuleka Finalists group exhibition

1986                      

Exhibition of woven tapestries at Pretoria Association of Arts with ‘Fibre Graphics’

Collections:

Private collections:  South Africa, United Kingdom, Netherlands, France, Poland and USA.

Galleries:

IS Gallery, Stellenbosch

Start Gallery, Hermanus

Harbour road Gallery, Kleinmond

Breytenbach Gallery, Wellington

Rosendal Gallery, Durbanville

Gallery 91, Somerset West

Publications:
2005 to date

Various Books including 5 Colouring books, published by Metz Press in South Africa – all translated into Afrikaans.  Also published in the Czech Republic, Russia, Germany, UK, USA, China and Australia. See my Publications page for more details of titles

Included in the new ‘Collectors Guide to Art and Artists in South Africa’ published by The South African Institute of Artists and Graphic Designers

2004 

Wrote and illustrated children’s book – as yet unpublished!

Magazine articles:  1997-present       

Contributor (art and craft articles) to various magazines: Craftwise, Your family, Woman’s Value, Drum, Huisgenoot/You, Ideas, etc.

Awards

Finalist in the Tollman Bouchard Finlayson Tondo competition 2015, 2016 and 2017, 2018, 2019

Vuleka Finalist in : 2006,2007,2009 (2 works), 2012 (3 works), 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 (2 works – 2nd place),2017,2018 (merit award),2019 (2 works)

2014                  Winner of the Book Art Competition, Art.b, Belville

1988                  2nd place in Woman’s Value textile design competition.

1986                 Highly recommended award on the S.A. Wool board Hand weaving exhibition.

1981                 Awarded the P.E. Technikon Art department merit bursary.

Commissions of Large tapestries:

1983-1993      Completed a number of large private commissions, including Hewlett Packard, Commercial Union, The council room of the OFS Technikon and the Tyler Building at Ondestepoort Vetinary College.