Just beyond the border of the suburbs in the Helderberg Basin there is an estate with wide open fields surrounded by old lines of trees. This working estate has a history rooted with some of the key historical figures in South Africa.  Visitors are welcome and given access to fields, forests and the river running through the estate.

Here are some of the watercolours I have created, both on site in the estate and in my studio:

watercolour of trees in a field
Cow Parsley in the nguni field at Vergelegen

Watercolour on 300gm Arches Cold Pressed.
380 x 560 mm

watercolour of a field
Dandelions in the Cow Field at Vergelegen

Watercolour on 300gm Arches Cold Pressed.
380 x 560 mm

Vergelegen Manor House #1

The Manor House is and the ancient camphor trees at Vergelegen.

Watercolour on 300gm Arches Cold Pressed
560 x 370 mm

Vergelegen Manor House #2

The Camphor Trees also grow in the formal, walled garden behind the Manor House. This watercolour illustrates the gnarled stump and growth on one of the trees. The roots of this tree are fluted from wear and weathering.

Watercolour on 300gm Arches Cold Pressed
560 x 370 mm

Vergelegen Manor House #3

The Manor House is and the ancient camphor trees at Vergelegen.

Watercolour on 300gm Arches Cold Pressed
370 x 560 mm

Watercolour of Helderberg from Vergelegen
Watercolour of Helderberg from Vergelegen

This is the field I call ‘far field’ at the top end of Vergelegen.  They have planted trees in the field but this painting was created when it was just grass.

Watercolour painting of rocks at the Lourens River
Rocky Rapid on Lourens River

This watercolour was painted sitting next to the Lourens River in the Vergelegen Estate – one of life’s great pleasures.