Alpha Greeff is an artist / printmaker who lives with her family in Hennopsrivier. I have never met a more fearless artist than her. She loves experimenting, and I am pretty sure she has tried out every technique you can think about! She is also an environmentalist and her latest art centres around the protection of the Pangolin.

She has studied Fine Arts at Wits and printmaking classes with the legendary Pretoria art teacher and printmaker, Mimi van der Merwe. This meeting had a profound impact on Alpha’s development and growth as a Printmaker and Artist.

Over the past 14 years Alpha’s approach to her art in general and Printmaking in particular, has become more and more process driven with little attention to final outcome. In this way the physical act of printmaking becomes like meditation.

Alpha loves the physical nature of printmaking and often repetitive mechanical nature of the discipline. Printmaking also lends itself to experimentation and combining different techniques and disciplines, all factors that are important to her.

Alpha’s subject matter generally reflects her own immediate world – interests, environment, travels and her family. Although she loves painting in watercolours and acrylic as well as drawing with pastel, Printmaking remains her first love. On a good day she gets to combine all of it!

The sheer scope and magic of Printmaking never ceases to amaze and delight her.

Annemie has taken up Fine Arts a couple of years ago, and has since won us over with her beautifully executed linocuts. She is inspired and fascinated by the human spirit and the balance between beauty and ugliness in everything encountered in her everyday life, love and travels.

After obtaining her BA(BK) Information Design degree, she worked as a graphic designer for a few years, but then took a break, exploring other businesses and travelling extensively. She still had this gnawing urge to express herself and soon returned to art, but exploring it through fine art, rather than design, and a variety of different mediums.

“Through my pain and explorations I encounter growth and miracles which leaves me speechless and in awe. Even though life can be fragile and fleeting, still I’d like to stand still for a moment and reflect on those things that make this journey worthwhile, and hopefully inspire you too.”

She has just completed a three month art residency in Paris at the Cité des Art, and has quite a few exhibitions lined up for this year. Make sure you keep an eye on our events calendar, so that you don’t miss this fast emerging artist’s work.

Sometimes I feel that I can never be enough; other times that I am way too much. The truth is, I am more than I ever imagined I could be.

Brendon Bairstow is a South African artist, residing in Cape Town. He is a visual artist, husband, father, space clearer, inner wellbeing promoter, and student of life.

His interests are many and varied, from the arts to the metaphysical, from analysing the way people think to helping them give of their very best selves.

“I paint because I have to. The voice inside is too powerful to ignore. I am self-taught, trial and error being my ever-present studio companions. Working in oils, I love the idea of simplifying a concept into its most basic forms of light and texture.”

His deepest inspiration comes from nature and the elements. He is fascinated by the way energy transforms from one state to another. Water, in particular, has captivated him since childhood, not only physically but also spiritually.  He also had the pleasure of learning from well-known South African artist Henry Symonds.
Brendon worked in mixed media and acrylic at first, but once he discovered oils, he was hooked. The way oils catch the light and fill the eye with detail, not to mention texture, never gets old for him. His work has become a reflection of his own inner journey towards self-realisation.

Potchefstroom born Cryselda Venter had a love for art since she was a little girl. She completed a teacher diploma in Art and Design at University of North West, (Potch University) and had a teaching career that spanned over 30 years

In 1985 after the birth of her daughter she enrolled for a BAFA Honours at Unisa and obtained her degree in 1997. Since then she has been lecturing Visual Art and Methodology part time at Tuks  and History of Design at Midrand Graduate Institute. Teaching Gr 1-8 in the UAE (2016 -2018) were wonderful experiences in my teaching career.

Being a multidisciplinary artist her style is diverse and she does charcoal drawings, printmaking (serigraphs), jewellery making and painting.

Influences and Subject matter

The pattern and decorative elements especially Art Noveau and Pattern and Decoration Movement, reflects in the application of my mark making. Hieroglyphic writing from Egypt and entopic elements in Rock Art features in unrelated images. The Egyptian pyramids, sculptures, tombs, and hieroglyphics were part of this research. Many of previous etchings, serigraphs and contain these cat elements.

South African Rock art, geometric patterns in beadwork I Zulu baskets, murals and weaving of African culture is also of interest to me. The beauty and diversity of our sunny South African landscape with its bright colours, detail in fauna and flora (in my Botanical series)is a favorite theme of mine.

Elizabeth is one of the busiest artists I have ever met! If she is not giving workshops, writing the best Instagram posts out there or our buying watercolour paint (yes, she is an obsessive collector! :-), she is doing monotypes or beautiful oil paintings. She is also known for her exquisite miniature artworks. 

“I am a Pretoria-based painter and printmaker. I did my BFA at Rhodes University from 2005 – 2009 where I majored in oil painting. In 2010 I shifted my focus from art practice and did my master’s degree in Art History.

After completing my studies, I started my own instructional design company that allowed me to be creative and pursue an illustration and design career. I started doing fine art full-time in October 2017 after a serious health scare left me evaluating what I really wanted to do with my life.
When I started creating art again, it was watercolour that captivated me. I fell in love with the delicacy and looseness required for watercolour work. As an oil painter, water-based media was an entirely different direction for me. I started exhibiting my work in 2018 and at one such exhibition I met local printmaker and art teacher Mimi van der Merwe.

I had experimented with printmaking before and was already a member of The Printing Girls – I was creating tiny prints using my pasta machine as a press. However, Mimi gave me the opportunity to learn from her and work in her studio where I soon discovered that I have ink in my veins.
Once I was creating work in a proper printing studio it took on a life of its own.

My main printmaking medium is currently reduction lino but I am creating a lot more ‘simpler’ pieces which portray the same amount of emotion but with fewer layers of colour. My goal this year is to create a consistent body of work that explores concepts of childhood, memory and nostalgia (specifically South African nostalgia). I really love the freedom that printmaking gives me to explore and push the boundaries of mark making and colour.”

I am a farm girl and creative at heart. For as long as I can remember, art and creativity has been part of my life. I enjoy a variety of art mediums from textile design to painting, doing murals or giving life to worn-down furniture and expressing my creativity through gardening.

Through my art, I want to bring a message of hope. There is beauty and greatness behind every mark of darkness. “Beauty from ashes” personifies my life. 

I am inspired by people, flowers from my garden, our beloved farm, and life’s journeys. Currently I am mostly working in oils or mixed media on canvas. I’ve had wonderful mentors through my life. Sonette Olls, Nic Oosthuizen, Dale Elliot and Willie Jacobs to name a few.

I live on my childhood Highveld farm, from where I am running an animal feed business and exploring my art and creativity. I recently started working under the artist name Ella.

I am currently working on a series of paintings that I call “Wonder”. In these paintings, I explore creative freedom, with inspirational thoughts, writings or songs. I combine this with things that I love – flowers, people and vibrant colour.

I believe that just like life, art is a journey. We grow, explore, and discover beauty as we dare to wonder.

Ernest Mbuyiseni Skhosana, a self taught artist was born and bred in the Highveld of Mpumalanga, in Emalahleni, South Africa. As a self motivated artist he “aims to contribute positively to the industry, and take excellence as a virtue through motivation, flexibility and confidence.”

It all started with a pencil sketch at age 7, and despite many obstacles,  he has improved on his skills and became the artist he envisioned to be. He likes being diverse, and therefore extended his talents to drawing, painting, sewing, woodwork and tattooing.

His exquisite artworks showcases the very talented young Ernest’s unique painting technique. It takes him over a month to complete an artwork. Ernest started off painting on t-shirt material, old curtains and scraps that he could gather.

“Painting is a huge blessing from God as I make a living out of it.”

As a teenager,  Zeeman was surrounded by dynamic women in her family, who inspired her to be aligned with her own power, advocating women’s rights and equality. As she is interested in world history, politics, social matters, as well as emotional energy work, it is only fitting for these aspects to be woven into her paintings.

Zeeman’s passion for people – especially women, their struggles, fears, and strive for recognition and equality, is evident in her work. For her, using her art as an instrument to shed the light on current matters, is her Divine purpose. However, Zeeman believes that in order for women to empower themselves, they must focus on emotional intelligence. She relates to Kavita Ramdas who said: “ We need women who are so strong they can be gentle, so educated they can be humble, so fierce they can be compassionate, so passionate they can be rational, and so disciplined they can be free.” Through her artistic practice, Zeeman addresses lessons that she learned in order to strive for a happy, fulfilling life.

Zeeman’s preferred medium is oil, though she starts with a thin layer of acrylic. She found that with these techniques, she could create the movement and depth that best represented emotions and energy. Her colour palette is a clear indication of her connection to her understanding of energy fields.

Characterized by melancholy with underlying aspects of spiritualism, Zeeman’s work illustrates sentiments relevant to the times, to which all people can relate.

In 2008, she had her first international art exhibition and then her career developed from there. She has taken part in various exhibitions in the USA, UK, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Zeeman has also taken part in the Florence Biennale 2011, Siel de Paris 2012, London Biennale 2019, and Amsterdam Art Fair 2019. In October 2020, she had her first solo exhibition in Rome, Italy. Her work has been published in numerous books and magazines and she has been a finalist in a couple of art competitions. She has also received several international art prizes and received the African Excellence Award for Contemporary Artist of the Year, 2022.

Creating is a way of life for me, an exploration into an unknown.  Making art is to connect with an intuitive direction to find meaning in life. Currently, I am exploring the physicality of the human body, the differences in genders and similarities between the shapes and skin of man and beast with the surface of the earth.

Shapes materialise from visual stimuli, past drawings as well as from memory, often intertwining, metamorphosing into something new; something not cognitively planned.

I enjoy working in a variety of media, as they all embody metaphors in my search for meaning.

I have a Fine Arts degree from Pretoria University, Honours in History of Art from the University of South Africa and three years training at the Art Academy in Ghent Belgium.

In 1982 I won the Uta travelling scholarship to return to Paris for another spell soaking up art inspiration in Europe.

During the seventies and eighties I held more than twenty solo exhibitions in South Africa and Europe after which I focussed on teaching.

I believe that I have learnt most of what I know and teach from practising art and working with other artists including my students. I have been teaching art for more than forty years and focus my teaching on the development of intuitive expression in my students. In 2000, I opened and ran a Creative Centre in the KZN Midland where I live now.

I encourage people to be creative through classes in painting, drawing and ceramics amongst others., by organising workshops, teaching and providing the space for other teachers to share their creative expertise at Giverny Country Studios in Curry’s Post. 

“The Power of Loss and Gain” is the title of my recent exhibition, which was a conclusion of years of working on my own art.

Joyce Carreira grew up in Pretoria, South Africa. From a young age it was apparent that her interests and talents lay in the arts.

After matriculating from Pro-Arte High School in 1990, she decided to further her art studies at the University of Pretoria. Upon completing her degree in Fine Arts, she undertook an extensive tour of Europe and Africa before being appointed as an Art Teacher at Pro-Arte High School, and later the National School of Arts.

In 2003 she decided to become a full time artist. Joyce specializes in the human anatomy and this has lead her on a journey of discovery into the depiction of the female form. Her unique interpretation of the beauty and sensuality of women can be seen in her paintings and sculptures.

Apart from doing commissions, she also gives classes and generously shares her knowledge and passion with fellow artists.

Linda spent 28 years as an art director for various advertising agencies, during which she won numerous local and international awards for creative excellence. 9 years as a lecturer in art direction at the AAA School of Advertising followed. Linda completed a master’s degree (cum laude) in fine arts at UJ where she was awarded the Chancellor’s medal for the most meritorious master’s study in the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture for 2017. Linda is Johannesburg based and practices as a full-time artist specializing in drawing, printmaking and mixed media investigating Afrikaner female identity within an historic context.

She is a multi-talented, award- winning, full-time artist living in Johannesburg. She specializes in drawing, printmaking and mixed media, through which she investigates the Afrikaner female identity within a historic context.

We are really pleased to show her work on this site.

2009-2019: On the judging panel of Frewin, McCall newspaper (photographic and graphics section) awards.
2019: Solo exhibition, Trent Gallery
2018–: Full-time artist
2018: Top 100 Sasol New Signatures art competition
2017: MTech fine arts (UJ), cum laude (Chancellor’s award).
2017: Top 100 Sasol New Signatures art competition
2017: Top 15 Thami Myele Fine art award
2015: Top100 Sanlam portrait award competition
2010: BTech fine art (VUT)
2007-2015: Lecturer in art direction at the AAA School of advertising
1977-2006: Art director at various advertising agencies in Jhb. Won 40 local and international awards for creative excellence
1976: Dip graphic design (Jhb College of art)
1954: Born

Lucas is a self taught artist from Limpopo in his 50’s and doesn’t seem to be slowing down. He has developed his very unique linocut style over the past 30 years.

His patterns are prominent and soothing, and his subject matter reflects his own observations in his surroundings. They have a playful, honest immediateness about them.

I remember when I first met Lucas Bambo, an infectious smile, a calm demeanour, and a humble spirit. I met him while he was putting the final touches on a book that was going to be shipped for printing in the USA.

Although he lives very isolated in the rural parts of Limpopo, he has travelled to Mexico and Switzerland for his exhibitions, and is currently working on a book illustrating commission with his linocuts.

We are very happy to have this hardworking artist’s work that we can share with you.

Although he lives very isolated in the rural parts of Limpopo, he has travelled to Mexico and Switzerland for his exhibitions, and is currently working on a book illustrating commission with his linocuts.

We are very happy to have this hardworking artist’s work that we can share with you.

Mimi van der Merwe is a true national treasure, a wonderful friend and an even greater teacher. Her art career spans over 60 years, and she is a wealth of information (which she generously shares)!

Mimi was born in 1934 and grew up in Malmesbury, near Cape Town. She studied literature at the University of Stellenbosch and did a three year diploma in Fine Art at the Stellenbosch Technical College at the same time, under Edith ten Kate.

In 1960 she went to Brussels where she studied painting and etching at the Academy Royale. In 1961 and 1962 she specialised in etching at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, under Professor Jean E. Bersier. In 1961-62 she obtained a bursary from the French government, and at the end of her studies she obtained the Prix de l`Atelier. From January to March 1997 she spent three months in Paris at the Cite Internasionale des Arts and worked at the Atelier Contrpoint and the Atelier Francais Bricaut.

Mimi has taken part in many exhibitions overseas. She has been invited artist to national exhibitions such as the Durban Exhibition in 1981, the Sand du Plessis exhibition in Bloemfontein, the Women`s Exhibition at the SA National gallery in Cape Town in the 1960`s.

Solo exhibitions include ones at the S.A. Association of Arts, Cape Town, Bellville (2x), Durban, Worcester, Pretoria (6x), Edrich Gallery in Stellenbosch, Cafe Paletta (Pretoria Art Museum), Van der Bijlpak Library Gallery and Member of Artists Gallery (Cape Town).

In France in 1997 she had the opening at Arte et Empreintes gallery in Paris and in October 1997 she had an exhibition at Gallery III in Harstad, Norway (with Lucas Bambo).

Mimi`s studio in Pretoria was established in 1983. She teaches printmaking, drawing and painting. It is frequented by people who are keen to learn new disciplines in art – working people, students, and established artists. Some students have established their own studios. Exhibitions have been held regularly, for instance at the Alliance Francaise de Pretoria, Pierneef Museum. Cafe Palette at the Pretoria Art Museum, Centurion Art Gallery and at Tait Gallery (the name of the studio which is in Tait Street, Pretoria).

Work by this artist has appeared in various publications, for instance Contrast, the literary magazine, Die Suid-Afrikaan, South African Graphic Arts and Techniques by F.L. Alexander. Reference: The Dictionary of South African Painters and Sculptors by G.Ogilvie.

She has also written a handbook on different printmaking techniques.

She is a member of Soroptimist International Pretoria, a service club with amongst other activities, a strong interest in the Winterveld.

As an artist, Mimi is interested in human beings: How the body and especially the face reflects mental and spiritual attitudes, how people interact with each other and the environment. She enjoys the brightness of colour and what shapes and textures can express.

I am an only child with an intense Love for nature and art. I started drawing at age two but only started painting when I was 17. By the age of 23 I was asked to take over my art teacher’s studio and taught art and photography for ten years. 

In 2014 I made the Alice art new signatures exhibition and sold out on opening night. I printed my photography on canvas and then painted on them. It was great to combine both art forms. 

By 2023 I have done more than 550 murals. Some of my images has been featured in International magazines.

I have a Passion for God and art. He has blessed me with this amazing talent for creating images of the beauty He has created all around us. I believe it is my duty to make people see the beauty of nature again.

Nasina Nash is an artist who puts her heart in her paintings. Despite having a B Comm. Financial Management degree, she chose to follow her passion of art instead and went on to study Fine Arts at the Technical College of Pretoria.

She works mostly in oil, watercolour, charcoal and conte. Her favourite subjects are geology (she is otherwise known as the “rock” lady), the human form, portraits and horses.

On my theme of the “CELEBRATION OF LIFE” , I express my admiration and awe at the evolution from the simple prehistoric life forms to the intricate and complicated physical, emotional and spiritual qualities of humans and their interpersonal relationships today.

The incredible time span of millions of years between the simplest forms of life , through evolution to the amazing diversity of life today , all connected by the complex double helix of the DNA strands, that we all have, to define our various species. However we all share life on this earth and must therefore respect our responsibility towards one another. We are all part of one great Creation.

I also appreciate the amazing qualities of all living creatures. For me the grace of horses, these magnificent and proud partners of man is symbolic of the beauty of the entire animal kingdom. The story of man has for thousands of years been intertwined with that of the horse . And the bond between a rider and his horse is very close as the horse intuitively reacts to the emotional state of his rider. For me this special communication between man and animal is a beautiful example of the wonder of living creatures.

I especially admire the work of Judith Mason, Philip Badenhorst, Diane Victor, Maureen Quinn, and Carl Jeppe. Some of my works are also in private collections in the UK, Australia, Canada, America, Spain and Kazakhstan.”

Tuition received from the following artists:

Carl Jeppe – Lecturer, University of Tshwane and Pretoria
Philip Badenhorst – Lecturer University of Potchefstroom and University Pretoria
George Boys – Artist, and lecturer Witwatersrand Technicon
Barend Grobbelaar – Studio Visio, Potcefstroom
Dale Elliot – Artist

Exhibitions Participated in:

Potchefstroom Art Museum
Benmore Gardens Art Gallery
Edenvale Art Gallery
Potchefstroom Association of Arts
The Water Colour Society
Norscot Manor Art Gallery
Gordon Froud Art Gallery
Pretoria Association of Arts
Gallery One Sixty Rosebank
Rotary Art Festival
Tina Skukan Gallery Pretoria
The Art Link Parkhurst

Stephanie qualified as a Nursing Sister, married her friend Paul whilst assisting him in his private practice, she obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree majoring in Sociology and Anthropology, followed by an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. Their interest in yachting and flying led her to obtain a Yacht Hand certificate and to qualify as a Private Pilot.

During their time in Johannesburg she followed her passion, thus completing a Diploma in Visual Communication. Once in the Eastern Cape, she completed her Baccalaureus Technologiae studies in Fine Art. During her studies she received awards for printmaking, best progress art student and art history. Her quest for knowledge and love of art led her to an Advanced University Diploma in Visual Arts and finally a Masters Degree in Visual Art (UNISA).

Stephanie has participated in various community and local projects. She has contributed paintings to and had fund-raising exhibitions for various children institutions, including the SPCA.  She has participated in various group exhibitions in Pretoria, Grahamstown, East London, Johannesburg and Chicago. Her solo exhibitions took place in Pretoria, East London, Port Elizabeth and Sabie Sands, Mpumalanga.

Based in the Wild Coast, in the Eastern Cape, she creates artworks focusing on the relationships between people, animals, the land and the interconnectedness of all. Her art-making processes of sculpture, painting, etching, digital imaging and printmaking became visual metaphors of the conscience – not as solutions, but as visual statements that could alter socially and personally constructed perceptions. Stephanie says “my artworks are a personal response to the many theoretical, environmental and spiritual issues explored”. Her intention is to depict the fragility of Being within a world devoid of a serene human destiny. A world marked by a fragile and an imperceptible equilibrium that does not belong to Man.

Her vision is to create bronze sculptures that not only have an aesthetic appeal to the audience, but also have meaning. They should speak to the soul of the viewer by alluding to the art of conversing with different people, social groups, and settings as the key to developing good relationships. 

Throughout society both men and women tend to reveal darker, fragile, and lonely moments within the expectations and norms of what a human being “should be”. These expectations create consequences that are subtleties only present in the subconscious attitude. My intention is to encourage the audience to look beyond reasoning as a possible catalyst for spiritual growth, a renewed identity and responsibility by discovering and developing the inner “Self”.

Born in South Africa, the environment, open spaces, and interpersonal interaction was a primary source of inspiration growing up. For me, Art is one place where desire to express and explore creativity becomes truly tangible. I am now primarily inspired by thoughts of the world we live in, the truths that we believe exist, and how we live these truths. My work is based on human relationships and interactions in the physical and spiritual emotional context, these I question and turn upside down and then comment on it through my art.
Qualifying as a Landscape Architect, I worked within this field in South Africa and Botswana and lectured at the University of Tswana in the Landscape Design module. I moved on to opening my own Graphic Design Company, from that I went on to study Visual Arts at Unisa University always being driven by the passion for art.

In the time of doing Visual arts, I exhibited at Pretoria Arts Museum as part of a collaboration of students, submitted for the Sasol Signatures, did smaller exhibitions, and won awards in the Recycled Art Competition in South Africa. At the moment my focus is realism with a slant to underlying commentary of how we live the truths we decide on, how we base all of that on a past – that does not exist, with concern for a future that is unpredictable. Through my art I investigate basic thought processes about guilt, forgiveness, love, time, conflict, isolation, eternity, and the ‘what is human?’ construct.

There is one place where desire to express and explore creativity become truly tangible – Art. My work is based on human relationships and interactions in the physical and spiritual emotional context in this tiny mad idea we call our world.

My focus is realism with a slant to the underlying commentary of how we live the truths we decide on, how we base all of that on a past – that does not exist, with concern for a future that is unpredictable. Through her art, she investigates basic thought processes about guilt, forgiveness, love, time, truths, conflict, isolation, eternity, and the ‘what is human?’ construct.

Art Qualification & Training
Qualifying as a Landscape Architect, she worked within this field and lectured at University of Pretoria in the Landscape Design module. She moved on to opening her own Graphic Design Company, from that she went on to study Visual Arts at Unisa always being driven by the passion of art. In the time of doing her Visual arts, she exhibited at Pretoria Arts Museum as part of a collaboration of students, submitted for the Sasol Signatures, did smaller exhibitions and won awards in Recycled Art.