In the south-east of Zimbabwe lies the Save Valley Conservancy, a wildlife reserve of nearly one million acres. A semi-arid wilderness of monumental granite kopjies, golden savannah, ancient leadwood forests and monolithic baobab trees, this tantalizing territory is home to endangered Black and White rhinos, African hunting dogs, elephants, buffalo, lion and a host of other species.
As an annex to the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) which comprises Kruger National Park, Limpopo Park and Gonarezhou National Park, this lowveld area is also home to artist Lin Barrie and her life partner Clive Stockil. Respected conservationist and ardent spokesman for the communities adjacent to the Save Valley Conservancy and the GLTFCA, Clive Stockil is Chairman of the Lowveld Rhino Trust (LRT)
Expressing her hopes, fears and love for this special ecosystem with oil paints on canvas, Lin Barrie believes that the essence of a landscape or animal can only truly be captured by direct observation. She immerses herself in the bush, whether it is sketching rhinos drinking at a favourite waterhole on Senuko Ranch in the Conservancy, camping amidst fallen red Mopani leaves in Gonarezhou National Park or writing and watching daily as the resident African Hunting dogs raise their pups at a nearby den.
The wheeling constellations and moon phases of the night skies, the droughts, veld fires and regenerating rains of the changing seasons - all are inspiration and affirmation that no single species is more important than the total ecosystem. Each and every one of us, whether we are humans living in sprawling cities, or dung beetles rolling our food stores: whether we are monumental baobabs, thousands of years old or a blade of grass consumed in a veld fire; all have a vital and often unrecognized role to play as strands in this greater web of life. Diversity and linkages between plants and animals are insurance for the future of our earth.
Lin Barrie states: "I feel an intimate connection with the natural world and from my extensive field sketches I create larger works on canvas, distilling colour and movement of animal or landscape subjects to capture emotion, fragility. I enjoy the immediacy of my preferred tool - a treasured old palette knife inherited from my father, to create expressive strokes."
Biology was a passion for Lin Barrie during her school years. Her plans of entering the world of Science were superseded only by the radical decision to pursue an artistic career.
Completing a Fine Art Diploma at Durban Technikon in 1980, she then gained experience as a textile designer, travelling extensively for business and pleasure.
In 1991, after returning from a trip to the Far East and completing courses in Chinese brushstroke painting and Indonesian batik, she became a full time fine artist.
Lin Barrie’s work is in various public and private collections in South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Australia, England, Canada, and the United States of America. She is represented by galleries in South Africa, Zimbabwe, England and Florida, USA.
Yearly she donates work to the London based Tusk Trust –helping to fund Lewa Conservancy in Kenya. Sustainable conservation and community issues are an important target for funding from her paintings.
1991
"Presently living in Save Valley Conservancy, Zimbabwe, I explore various
mediums – oil/oil pastel on hand-made paper, pencil, watercolour
on silk, oil on canvas.
Always I am inspired by the mood and colour of our African landscape,
and the dynamic movement of my Animal and bird subjects. Endangered African
Wild Dogs are one of my favourite subjects."
1981 – 1990
Textile Design Industry. Traveled extensively, business and pleasure –
Far east, Europe, Southern Africa.
1978 – 1980
3 Year Fine Art (DIP) Natal Technikon
EXHIBITIONS
2016
The Cape Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa, Wildlife Exhibition
2015
The Cape Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa, Wildlife Exhibition
2014
The Cape Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa, Wildlife Exhibition
2013
The Cape Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa, Wildlife Exhibition
2012
The Cape Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa, Wildlife Exhibition
2011
The Cape Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa, Wildlife Exhibition
2010
The Cape Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa, Wildlife Exhibition
2009
W R Gallery, South Africa, Solo Exhibition
Gallery Delta, Harare, Zimbabwe, “Unity” Group Exhibition
The Lucky Bean Gallery, Harare, Zimbabwe
Lewa Art Auction, London/Kenya
The Cape Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa, Wildlife Exhibition
2008
The Lucky Bean Gallery, Harare, Zimbabwe
South Eastern Wildlife Exposition, South Carolina, USA
Lewa Art Auction, London/Kenya
The Cape Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa, Solo Exhibition
The Cape Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa, Wildlife Exhibition
2007
The Redbone Gallery, Florida Keys, USA, Solo and others since
South Eastern Wildlife Exposition, South Carolina, USA
Lewa Art Auction, London/Kenya
The Cape Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa, Wildlife Exhibition
2006
South Eastern Wildlife Exposition, South Carolina, USA
Patrick Mavros Gallery, London
2005
Patrick Mavros Gallery, London
Lewa Art Auction, London/Kenya
Willowmead Art Café, Solo Exhibition yearly since
Rough Creek Lodge, Glen Rose, Texas
Cherie De Villiers Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa, Solo and others since
2004
The Studio Gallery, Zimbabwe, Solo Exhibition and others since
25 Degrees South Gallery, Hoedspruit, South Africa
The Cape Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
2003
Cape Town Museum, South Africa, Human Genome Science Exhibition
W.J. Architects, Nelspruit, South Africa, Solo Exhibition
The Cape Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
2002
Dorp Street Gallery, Stellenbosch, South Africa, Solo Exhibition
1995
Art of Africa Gallery, London, Various shows yearly since
1994
National Gallery, Zimbabwe, Women’s Visual Arts Exhibition
1993
National Gallery, Zimbabwe, Women’s Visual Arts Exhibition
1992
National Gallery, Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Heritage Exhibition
1981
Delta Gallery, Harare, Zimbabwe, Young Artists Exhibition  |