Castle Rock Morning Light

8 250 ZAR

555 USD / 480 EUR

On my way to a morning free dive at Castle Rock, just past Simon’s Town, I pulled over and painted the view looking back towards Muizenberg and the winelands. The morning mist was still hanging low over the land, creating that special Cape Town morning feeling…

Available for purchase through State of the Art Gallery.

Groot Constantia Vineyards Morning View - Reserved

7 500 ZAR

505 USD / 435 EUR

Living in Constantia brings so many joys, including having this publicly owned vineyard just around the corner. I love waking up and finding my way to a hilltop in the vineyard with my morning cup of coffee, ready for the day to begin and the mist to rise.

Scarborough Beach Late Summer

6 000 ZAR

405 USD / 350 EUR

I walked down to Scarborough Beach near Cape Point, in Cape Town, wanting to continue to enjoy the beautiful day, after painting a painting earlier in the day nearby. I didn’t have to look far - as I walked towards the path down to the beach, I was immediately struck by this view, unique at this time of year for the yellow daisies in the bushes on either side of the path. I set up right there and painted! I did need to find two rocks from the path to weight my easel - the wind picked up just as I was ready to start painting!

Saunder’s Rock Setting Sun - Sold

6 000 ZAR

405 USD / 350 EUR

I absolutely loved the intensely bright green of the algae on these rocks. I returned to this spot on Saunder’s Beach three times to capture just what I found so captivating. Once the tide was so high there was no algae to be seen at all! (And I had to do another painting instead!) The bright light of the setting sun was definitely quite intense to be looking into…

Hout Bay Harbour Morning Light with Sailboats - Sold

6 000 ZAR

405 USD / 350 EUR

I grew up in Hout Bay, and one of the joys of returning to Cape Town has been rediscovering scenes that I love in paint. As a child we used to go to the Harbour to buy fresh fish from Snoekies, and the smell of fish and the cries of the seagulls takes me right back to that time. I painted this painting over two crystal calm mornings, with the water only being disturbed by a seal popping its head up here and there.

Prince Albert Karoo Farm with Distant Hills

5 750 ZAR

390 USD / 335 EUR

I attended a week-long Plein Air painting retreat in Prince Albert at the end of August. The scenery in the Karoo is so different to Cape Town. I was mesmerised by the blue of the distant hills, and by the dusty feeling. I was amazed by the amount of fine dust particles layering every part of my car - on the inside! I stood at the top of the driveway into this farm to capture the hills, but found myself equally captivated by the farm itself.

Swartberg Pass - Orange Mountains

4 500 ZAR

305 USD / 260 EUR

The Swartberg Pass is one of the most spectacular drives I’ve explored in South Africa - winding its way up a canyon carved over millenia by the Gamka River. The pass was built by Thomas Bain and opened in 1888. We were spoiled for choice with spectacular views in every direction - the only challenge was how to position ourselves to get some perspective on the towering fold mountains all around us. Here is a view of the start of the Pass, with the sun creeping around the cliffs. We even caught the “setting” sickle moon.

Groot Constantia View Towards Devil’s Peak

7 500 ZAR

505 USD / 435 EUR

Sometimes the toughest decision is which direction to face! On this morning, I came to paint the scene stretching out towards Franschoek, but I was immediately drawn to the clouds descending into the Constantia Valley. Instead of resisting, I went with it, and loved trying to capture the moment.

Noordhoek Beach Morning Light

4 000 ZAR

270 USD / 230 EUR

The clouds on this morning were dotted all over the peninsula, teasing me as I drove around Chapman’s Peak, begging to be painted. I settled on this spot overlooking Noordhoek Beach, capturing the clouds as they disappeared towards the horizon.

Noordhoek Peak with Cotton Wool Clouds

5 350 ZAR

360 USD / 310 EUR

On this same day, the cotton wool clouds only became more dramatic as the morning progressed. I was on my way to my studio, but couldn’t help myself… I pulled over my car as I was leaving Noordhoek, and planted my easel right in the road, to capture the exciting display of luminescent clouds punctuating the bright blue sky, leaving all sorts of moving shadows on the mountain face.

Bakoven Rocks From Above - Midday Bright Light

7 750 ZAR

525 USD / 450 EUR

The sun was already almost directly overhead when I painted this painting overlooking the rocks of Bakoven - a time of day when normally I am inside, away from the hot sun. But on this day, I was gratefully protected by the shade on a friend’s balcony, allowing me to capture the bright white light bouncing off the rocks.

Available for purchase through State of the Art Gallery.

Groot Constantia View towards Constantia Nek - Sold

8 925 ZAR

605 USD / 520 EUR

Since moving to Constantia, Groot Constantia has been my greatest discovery. Who knew the vineyards are publicly owned, and open to everyone to enjoy. I have painted many mornings and afternoons, nestled amongst the vineyards, watching the vines change with the seasons. This painting was painted over two perfect mornings in August. It is always a thrill painting views I know and love, like the Constantia Nek peak - a hike I have done innumerable times.

Available for purchase through State of the Art Gallery.

Rondebosch Common Big Clouds Evening

7 000 ZAR

470 USD / 405 EUR

Rondebosch Common has become a favourite spot for our Wednesday evening Plein Jane meet-ups. On this evening, the clouds were creating all sorts of exciting shapes, creating all sorts of fun for me as I tried to capture them as fast as they were moving.

Available for purchase through State of the Art Gallery.

Camps Bay Tidal Pool Rocks - Morning

4 340 ZAR

295 USD / 250 EUR

Standing just to the left of the tidal pool in Camps Bay, I was captivated by the reflections of the rocks on the water, and by the variety of shapes, colours and patterns of the rocks. I also loved the bright green bits of algae and seaweed contrasting with the warm oranges and pinks on the rocks.

Chapman’s Peak Mountain

6 000 ZAR

405 USD / 350 EUR

Staring up at the peaks above me, I was struck by the majesty of the rocks and outcroppings, throwing deep shadows across the mountainside as the sun moved higher and higher in the sky. I came back a second day to make sure I’d captured the shadows accurately - they had almost disappeared by the time I finished painting on the first day!

Hout Bay Harbour Sunken Ship - Sold

5 750 ZAR

390 USD / 335 EUR

I had so much fun painting this sinking ship. It has been there for a number of years, and is revealed or hidden daily depending on the tides. I loved the feeling of the tipping ship, even though it was very much stationary. Apparently soon it will be removed from the Harbour... a shame, as I think it adds so much character!

Dalebrook Rocks and Beach

5 250 ZAR

355 USD / 305 EUR

I painted this with two en plein air painting friends nearby. I was absorbed by the variety of colours and transparencies in the water as the tide came in (or was it went out?) in the little rock pools on the shore. I also loved seeing the waves coming into the shore, at times completely submerging the rocks, at other times leaving them bare, revealing the bright green algae.

When I was a child, I came to this part of Cape Town with a group called The Questioner's Club. We were all given an open wooden frame (exactly like one you would stretch a canvas over, now that I think about it), and were invited to place the open frame on any spot on the rocks. We then had to draw all that we saw in that one square - algae, muscles, sea anemones... I'll never forget the experience. How much variety there was in that one small square.

Available for purchase through State of the Art Gallery.

Rondebosch Common Sunset Light on Devil’s Peak

5 500 ZAR

370 USD / 320 EUR

Another beautiful Plein Jane Wednesday evening. No clouds in the sky on this night, allowing the warm light from the setting sun to bathe the mountain side and tips of the trees.

Hout Bay Beach One October Morning

5 750 ZAR

390 USD / 335 EUR

Standing on the far end of Hout Bay Beach, near Mariner’s Wharf, I loved the soft play of light and shadow on the mountains in the distance. I was lucky to catch a sailboat as it did a loop in the bay.

Camps Bay Beach Windy Morning

4 000 ZAR

270 USD / 230 EUR

I was inspired to find a place to paint on this sunny Tuesday morning. Driving past Camps Bay Beach, the view of the rocks in the turquoise sea made me stop the car and grab my easel and paints. However, what I didn’t expect was the strong gusts of wind that whipped down from Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles mountain range behind me, causing me to grab hold of my easel on many occasions, just in time to stop it from being lifted up and away. This was certainly one way to encourage an alla prima painting!

Bakoven Rocks Misty Morning

7 200 ZAR

460 USD / 410 EUR

A misty morning greeted me as I descended to the small Bakoven beach ready to paint with my fellow Plein Jane friend. Luckily, my imprimatura (base colour) of paint on this hand-prepared wooden panel was light blue - perfect for the conditions! I loved how the horizon was completely lost in the mist. By the time the sun burned away the clouds, it was time to go.

Available for purchase through Chandler House.

Hout Bay Sunrise with Pink Clouds - Sold

5 500 ZAR

370 USD / 320 EUR

The view from my parents’ house is forever changing. I painted the sunrise many mornings, and no day is ever the same. I completed this painting over three mornings - the pink clouds that captured me so on the first day never appeared again!

Bakoven Rocks Turquoise Sea

5 500 ZAR

370 USD / 320 EUR

Standing high above the rocks and shore, I could see the turquoise translucency of the water over the rocks and sand. The colours were so varied and beautiful!

Clifton 2nd Beach Rocks

5 500 ZAR

370 USD / 320 EUR

Apparently this was a very unique view I captured, as told to me by a Clifton 2nd Beach local. The rocks are usually covered with white, fine sand, but due to the winter storms this year, the sand was washed away and all these rocks were exposed. I love that I captured a view that may not reveal itself again for some time.