Written by Latoya Newman Tuesday, 29 March 2011 20:49

South African Noted Artists On Exhibition ~ Shuttleworth and Eastment

Pietermaritzburg (Independent Newspaper).- Kwazulu-Natal art lovers have much reason to celebrate with the return of one of the province’s established artists after being based in Cape Town for some years. Gary Shuttleworth, who is famous for his paintings of African people and wildlife, is not just exhibiting in the province, he is home to stay. “I grew up on a farm in Natal just outside Ladysmith, but I went to the Wits Art College in Joburg and then I moved to Cape Town. My whole family is here and I plan to retire here. I now live on a farm just outside of Pietermaritzburg where I’ve also set up a studio,” he said. A  collection of Gary Shuttleworth’s paintings are on show at the Blue Caterpillar Art Gallery until April 15 2011. Shuttleworth's works are showing alongside an exhibition of the works of another well known South African artist ,Charmaine Eastment. Shuttleworth said the inspiration for most of his work stemmed from childhood memories. “My childhood friends were local Zulu children and I have happy memories of spending long days exploring the hills and countryside of the Drakensberg. From an early age I learned the customs and ways of typical Zulu village life.” Shuttleworth said he took to art from an early age when he started sketching. “My parents were avid travellers and undertook numerous trips into Africa. With long hours spent on the road I naturally turned to drawing to occupy my mind. Seeing all the different tribes in Africa, the wild animals and the bushveld, instilled in me something quite mystical and magical about Africa that is still with me to this day.” The artist, who works with oils and acrylics, said he preferred oils for their richer colours and impact.

One of his greatest moments in developing as an artist was time spent exploring art in Europe. “In 1987 I went to Europe mainly to see for myself all the great paintings and sculptures that I had so avidly studied from books as a child. This was a dream come true, the entire history of art was right there before my eyes and I soaked it all in like a sponge. I landed up in Spain and decided to stay for a while, painting and sketching the local villages and their everyday life. On returning to South Africa I decided to freelance and work for myself, painting and drawing full-time. I’ve been painting full time for 12 years now,” he said.

Charmaine Eastment was born in South Africa and has lived in South Africa, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and England. Charmaine naturally, grew up with a love and appreciation of art and in later years Charmaine studied under the great South African artist Errol Boyley. It was not until later in life that she took up painting after raising a family of three children. In South Africa she met and studied with Robin Townsend, Tony Strickland and most recently, the late Errol Boyley.  Charmaine was particulary fortunate to have had the opportunity of working with the late Errol Boyley and it was Errol as her teacher, mentor and friend who had the most profound and lasting influence on her development as an antidote to the stressful and energetic world of today. She now lives and works in Bothas Hill, KwaZulu Natal, where she has her own studio.  She has had numerous exhibitions in KwaZulu Natal and her paintings are in selected galleries throughout South Africa.  The Blue Caterpillar Art Gallery was established in 2001 at 37 Willowton Road in Pietermaritzburg where it covers two floors of the Butterflies for Africa complex in Pietermaritzburg. The gallery exhibits a wide range of styles and mediums covering both established and up and coming artists from South Africa and beyond. The gallery is also currently hosting an exhibition of Charmaine Eastment works. was born into an artistic family. Her mother, a well-known sculptor in England and grandmother, an artist in Rhodesia, grew up with a love and appreciation of art. Charmaine studied under the great South African artist Errol Boyley. Visit the gallery's website at ... http://www.butterflies.co.za

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