JANET BESTER SPAUN

I obtained a B.Sc. Degree majoring in Botany and Zoology from UCT. It was during this time that I discovered a talent for drawing and painting flowers. I held my first solo exhibition of flower drawings in pastel pencil at Kirstenbosch National Botanic Gardens in 1972, which was a sell out. I went on to hold 13 successful solo exhibitions. I opened a summer gallery at Groot Constantia Wine Estate, which I named 'Art Inc Africa'. I presented my own work and a collection of artwork from our rainbow nation, South Africa. This was a great success and went on to run for 13 years. The gallery was much loved by locals and visitors alike, as the work was vibrant, interesting and well priced. In addition I produced 12 limited edition, numbered and signed Protea prints. I was awarded a Grenfell Medal for Botanic Art from the Royal Horticultural Society London, for an exhibit of rare and endangered Cape Flora watercolours. I am passionate about showcasing our wonderful Cape Floral Kingdom, which is the source of many garden flowers, such as Geranium, Nemesia and Agapanthus, to name a few. My aim is to give people botanically correct flower paintings that are aesthetically pleasing and decorative. It's important to me that I love the flower I am painting, and always use live plants. My work is very well travelled and hangs in many private collections worldwide.