Elizabeth grew up surrounded by family
and friends who were artists and
zoologists. This awakened an early awareness in the rich variety of bird-life
so fortunately to be found in the surrounding environments of the Eastern
Transvaal, the West Coast and the Cape Peninsula where she spent her childhood.
She studied painting at the Michaelis School of Fine Art under Peggy
Delport and sculpture under Bruce Arnot, majoring in History of Art and
Psychology. She subsequently completed a computer graphics course at Concept
Marketing.
Now living on the mountain-side of Muizenberg, overlooking the sea and
Zandvlei, Elizabeth has been drawn back to her early fascination with
the
birds and nature, which once again surround her. Her recreation time also
allows her to enjoy the life of water birds, as she is a keen canoeist.
Particularly drawn towards the penguin colony at the boulders, she decided
two years ago to make this a special project, making weekly trips to study
and observe the birds - taking time and care to capture the subtle gestures
so unique to penguins. She donated one of these studies, done in oil on
canvas, to SANCCOB to help raise funds for the seabirds affected by the
"Treasure" oil spill. The WWF.SA successfully auctioned this
painting on the internet to Bill Hiss of California.
The Ruth Prowse School of Art, has been facing the threat of closure
following a year of extraordinarily high expenses. When approached to
assist in a Fundraising Exhibition and Auction titled, "Save the
Ruth
Prowse", Elizabeth happily donated a powerful oil painting of a raptor.
She regularly exhibits at galleries in Cape Town, has sold her paintings
to
SA corporates and done several private commissions. She has also completed
studies of the Montero Hornbill for a poster for the Percy FitzPatrick
Institute of African Ornithology at the University of Cape Town which
is to be publically displayed in Namibia. Their aim is to popularise scientific
research findings, making them more accessable to the public, thus bridging
the gap between art and science.
Her most recent paintings are on exhibition at the Cape Gallery, 60
Church Street, Cape Town.
“I am concerned and would like to play
a part in conservation, for the reasons that it ultimately affects efforts
to realize a better world.
I have tried to keep a balance between the aesthetics of the environment
and documented observations, like catching the sun on the wet birds and
at the same time monitor their routine. I feel that I am only starting
to convey this using oil on canvas and hope that what I wish to put across
will continue to develop.”
Her work has been exhibited at The Cape Gallery since 1997. She has sold
paintings to South African Corporates and produced several private commissions.
These include an exhibition on the island of Santa Cruz and on various
tourist boats in the Archipelago her focus being creatures endemic to
the Galapagos Island.
The subject matter she is now focusing on are the endemic wildlife of
the Cape Peninsula.
EXHIBITIONS
2016
Wildlife, adventure and narrative, annual wildlife exhibition at The Cape Gallery
Super Real, group exhibition at The Cape Gallery
2014
Pause; the annual wildlife exhibition at The Cape Gallery
2011
Annual wild life exhibition at The Cape Gallery
Her clients include:

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