Where Wild Things Grow

I was part of a very special exhibition in November 2024 at @wildekranscountryhouse in the Elgin Valley, famous for its abundant apple orchards. Just one hour outside of Cape Town, I have come to fall in love with this valley, as I have had the honour of painting the enchanted gardens of Wildekrans Country House and the vistas from above the garden and some of the surrounding farms.

My close @salon104.art artist friend Caryn McArthy and I together exhibited at @wildekranscountryhouse during the two @elginopengardensza weekends - 2-3 and 9-10 November. Wildekrans Country House was one of 10 participating gardens.

Each year Alison Green and her husband Barry Gould invite one or more artists to exhibit in their 1811 historic barn, to create magic alongside their magical gardens. With Caryn as my partner, we created 40 artworks on the theme Where Wild Things Grow. For me, this is about the magic that happens within us when we are in a wild, unkept place. When we are deeply in nature, feeling our connection to our natural world.

All of my paintings were painted en plein air. I found inspiration in the Wildekrans gardens, high up on the hillsides looking down over the Elgin Valley or far off into the distance, or on beautiful neighbouring farms. Caryn created Fynbos and floral-inspired paintings set in lush interiors, drawing upon Caryn’s own special history with the valley. We transformed the barn into something quite special - our paintings were set in a space that was unique, whimsical, colourful and full of flowers!