Artists Statement & CV

After many years of working professionally in various aspects and disciplines within the commercial Art World and Industry, I have resurrected my passion and love to create myself, as an artist.  I began my Art World journey in the mid-1980s as a gallerist with Natalie Knight Gallery with David Krut then moved to head up the Painting Department with Stephan Welz & Co. in Association with Sotheby's. I have also worked as a freelance art journalist for the Financial Mail as well as working as a private art dealer for many years. I am now culminating the years of commercial experience within the Arts into formalising my knowledge through academic study through Unisa and developing my learning and experience by focusing my energy on creating art.

My work so far has been an adventurous exploration of different mediums and techniques in expressing the fragile glory of the vegetal world and how humankind is in perilous danger of losing multiple plant species as well as the magnificent gifts they offer us. This study and examination which focuses on Southern African indigenous trees and plants, their traditional medicinal properties, and their ecological value, have led me to express these themes mainly through the 'alchemic' process of eco-printing.
With a deep love for the indigenous plants of the veld and bush of my own country South Africa, I have aimed to record the wild plants that are dwindling and being eroded through the damage we are inflicting upon our natural habitats. By taking a print record and fossil copies of plants and trees such as Mopane, Baobab, Marula, Weeping Boerbean, and Magic Guarri as well as many others, I have aspired, through my artwork to document and keep these magnificent vegetal specimens of our planet alive and to draw critical awareness to their very existence.

Throughout my travels around South Africa, in the bushveld, Lowveld, desert, coastal, mountain, and urban areas, I continuously collect samples of plants and the leaves of multiple plant species.  I then attempt to preserve them until I am able to either plant them or begin the process of eco-printing.