28/03/2026
This body of work captures the landscapes that shaped and moulded my youth.
I grew up in a tropical climate in Durban, South Africa. The landscapes that bring me the most nostalgia are visiting our family sugar cane farm on the North Coast, where we spent many weekends and my grandparents hosted incredible lunches overlooking the ocean, green fields, and palm trees. This is where my love for palm trees began.
The Natal Midlands is another landscape close to my heart, where my family and I spent languid days lunching among forest scenery and exploring the Midlands Meander, stopping at characterful spots for coffee and treats. These memories are etched in my mind, and I feel joy when painting them.
I have a large French family, with 51 cousins still living in Mauritius. This landscape holds many happy childhood memories. We stayed, and still do, on the wilder side, where white beaches remain untouched and my extended family live. This is Heaven on Earth to me - white sand, clear water, and palm trees.
In this body of work, I create from memory, not images. I paint with childlike faith, allowing the work to form organically from within. My colours reflect the emotions I felt, and still feel, in these landscapes.
What landscapes do you remember, and how have they shaped you? What makes you feel alive and draws you back? It’s good to remember where you are from, as it has formed who you are.
