1956 - He was born in Queenstown in the Eastern Cape.

His father was a contractor in the Civil Construction industry and as a result the family travelled and lived in various towns such as Queenstown, Durban, Benoni, Carltonville and East London.

 

His interest in art began at the age of 5 when he saw a Tretchikoff print of the "Dying Swan" at a friend’s house in Carltonville.

 

He was often punished by the English teacher at Cambridge Primary School in East London in Sub A & B for not being able to read or spell properly as he was only interested in looking at the pictures in books and not reading them.

She locked him in the classroom after school one day and forgot about him. It was dark already when he managed to escape through a small window high up on the wall.

Another teacher, Mrs Forrester, kindled his interest in art because of her magnificent chalk renderings in colour on the drawing boards in the classroom of the different nursery rhymes.

 

 

1966-1969 - Attended Beacon Bay Primary School. Played 1st team rugby and 1st team tennis and was elected as Head boy.

He was also in charge of the Scholar Patrol.

Entered and won many Aloe Club colouring-in competitions with the Daily Dispatch.

Enjoyed travelling out in the country on Sundays and painted alla Prima watercolours of the huts on the mountain sides in the Transkei from life.

 

1970  - 1974 Attended Selborne College in East London. Was awarded best Art Student prize in Std 6 and took art as a subject

under Charles Coppin. Excelled at athletics and was the schools top sprinter in the 100m and 200m. He was commissioned to paint all the school backdrops for the school plays. His was nicknamed "Rembrandt Van Roux" at school because of the chiaroscuro in his paintings.

He still carries the nickname "Rembrandt".

 

1975  - 1976 Served in the infantry in the SADF in the Angolan War.

 

1977  - 1979 Attended the East London Technical College and obtained a Graphic Design Diploma under Jack Lugg. (Jack Lugg trained under Professor Walter Battiss as well as Henry Matisse)

Was awarded the art prize for best student in 1st year.

Was a volunteer surf lifesaver at Nahoon beach in East London.

Decorated the entire interior of the East London City Hall with "Knights in Armour" theme for the East London Round Table #1

Went to London and studied the Great Masters in the Tate and National Galleries.

Was a member of the East London Photographic Society and received numerous awards.

 

1980 - 1981 Was the first Graphic Designer employed by the Standard Bank of South Africa. Trained under Gerhard Drobczyk

who was considered by Beith Process and Sparham & Ford to be the top typographer in South Africa at the time.

 

1982 - 1989  Worked in the Advertising Industry as a Graphic Designer, Illustrator and Finished Artist. Also freelanced for various

Advertising Agencies. His experience of working in a wide variety of media has been invaluable for his paintings.

 

1990 - Started his own screen-printing and signage business.

He enjoys to travel (because his family travelled when he was young) and also to "rough it up" in the bushveld because of his experiences in the Infantry.

He travels around South Africa to get photographic reference for his paintings and also to enjoy the outdoor life.

Was secretary at Alberton 109 Round Table.

Painted "en plein aire" in the bushveld with Louis Audie and Bert Lewington.

His work has been influenced by the Old Masters such as Rembrandt, Frans Hals and Vermeer as well as the more contemporary artists John Meyer and Peter Bonney.

Is a member of the Alberton Photographic Society.

 

He is currently devoting more of his time to painting.