Dorothy du Plessis Art Studio

31/08/2026

24 - 27 September 2026
Meet Janet Kingwill in her studio 102 Westbourne Rd Kenton on Sea
Janet Kingwill splits her time between Grand View, a Karoo farm a few kilometres off the tar road, and her home here in Kenton, and that turn onto the farm road, the “I’m nearly home!” feeling, runs through everything she paints. Big skies, sheep grazing as weather rolls in, gravel roads to infinity, the soft grey-greens of the veld waking up after rain.
But Janet is never just at her easel. Her sketchbook goes everywhere: she’s drawn the Springboks from the stands in Gqeberha, canal boats in France, and once spent an hour-long roadside wait (stuck behind a toppled ore truck) happily sketching the countryside in ballpoint pen.
She’s also a restless experimenter. Red wine ink on collaged book pages. Watercolour over vintage pages. Drawing with both hands at once. She even rescued a painting chewed by a young dog, stitched the canvas back together and made the repair part of the artwork, a restoration that celebrates the imperfection.
And she loves passing it on. Janet teaches sketching workshops using nothing fancier than highlighters and office stationery; “no experience is required”, including at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda, where one of her demo sketches of an old settler home led to a commission from the building’s new owner.
Find Janet at the Barefoot Arts Meander, 24–27 September 2026, where she’ll be exhibiting in her solo studio in Kenton-on-Sea. Look out for the artist banner, follow the map, and go say hello.

30/08/2026

24- 27 September 2026
Meet Claire Ball Barefoot Arts Meander Solo Studio Eco Artist
11 Vasco da Gama Str, Kenton on Sea
Before Claire Ball was an artist, she was an architectural technician in Jozi, which explains a lot when you look at her work. The depth, the perspective, the sure hand. Then she married a farmer, swapped the city for the Eastern Cape, and spent decades on farms outside Grahamstown and deep in the Karoo, painting whenever life allowed.
Nine years ago, Claire and her husband came to Kenton "for a year or two" between farms. She never left.
Today her studio is filled with paintings, and something you may not have seen before: eco printing.
No inks, no dyes from a bottle. Claire prints fabric using actual leaves from her garden: roses, blackjacks, onion skins, even pomegranate skins, coaxing their natural colour onto silk and cotton through a days-long process of mordanting, bundling and steaming in an enormous pot. Every scarf, table runner and cushion is a one-off. It cannot be repeated, even if she tried.
Entirely self-taught, Claire learned eco printing through online workshops with masters in Australia and Israel, proof that one's own curiosity doesn't retire.
Claire's studio is one of 21 open studios you can wander into during the Barefoot Arts Meander, 24 –27 September 2026.
Look out for the artist banner, follow the map, and go say hello.
Ask her about the pomegranates;-)

29/08/2026

24 -27 September 2026
Meet Cherry Smith Barefoot Arts Meander Open Studio Artist
At The Little Studio 25 Fowler Street, Kenton-on-Sea
"This is my joy space." it's about friendship, joy, lifelong learning and creating a welcoming place for others.
That's how Cherry Smith describes the little studio where she spends her golden years surrounded by paint, paper and flowers.
Although creativity has always been part of her life, Cherry's true painting journey only began after retirement. Having enjoyed a varied career in business and beauty therapy, she discovered watercolour through local artist Arleen Marx—and was instantly hooked.
For more than 30 years, Cherry has been an active member of Kenton's vibrant art community, learning alongside fellow artists through the Kenton Art Group and workshops with respected tutors including Wendy Clayton, Marijke Kirby, Tess Lovemore and many others.
Today, watercolour is her medium of choice.
"I love that you don't need a big studio," she says. "With watercolour, a small space can bring great joy."
Cherry's delicate floral paintings reflect her love of colour and nature, while her charming handmade cards have become favourites with younger visitors, offering affordable original artwork that can be treasured for years to come.
Always eager to learn, Cherry continues to explore new techniques through workshops, fellow artists and online tutorials, believing that every painting is another step on an exciting creative journey.
Looking ahead, she hopes to open The Little Studio as a welcoming place where artists can simply gather, paint, share ideas and enjoy each other's company.
"It's not about the money," she says. "It's about the companionship."
Visit Cherry during the Barefoot Arts Meander and discover a studio filled with warmth, friendship and the simple joy of painting.

28/08/2026

Meet Regina Uys one of the artists opening her studio for the BarefootArts Meander 24 - 27 September 2026
8 Lyon Rd Kenton on Sea
“I certainly believe that one never stops learning!”
Born and raised in Johannesburg, she discovered her passion for art at an early age, studying art throughout her school years and achieving a distinction in her final Matric examinations.
After school, she was accepted into the Art and Graphic Design course at the Witwatersrand Technikon, although she was unfortunately unable to complete the course. She went on to study Fine Art and Remedial Education at JCE and, after graduating, taught at Wendywood Primary School for four years, while also running an Aftercare Programme.
Marriage and starting a family saw her put her painting aside for a time. Then, after moving to East London in 2003, she met renowned artist Bernard Barry, whose encouragement inspired her to pick up her brushes and return to the easel. Her passion for painting was reignited.
Working mainly in oils, she has gradually developed a style of her own. Her paintings are earthy and organic, deeply influenced by her connection with nature and her surroundings. She builds her paintings in layers, using an eclectic and intuitive approach.
Now she is embarking on a new creative adventure, exploring watercolour and ink and developing a new set of skills. The unpredictability of watercolour—the way water ebbs, flows and moves across the paper—has introduced a gentler dimension to her creative process.
For her, art is a personal journey, and one that never truly ends.

28/08/2026

28/08/2026

24–27 September | Kenton-on-Sea & Bushmans River Mouth
Meet Mary Fowlds @ Jerry’s
For Mary Fowlds, drawing and painting have been a lifelong passion. Her artistic journey began in the Eastern Cape, where she studied art at school and later attended art school in Port Elizabeth. She was fortunate to learn portraiture from Joan Wright and was also influenced by the renowned artist Dorothy Kay.
Mary has always been a passionate draughtswoman. “You can’t paint until you can draw,” she says—and drawing remains at the heart of her practice.
Her work is wonderfully loose, confident and full of movement. She paints portraits, wildlife, horses, cattle, flowers and sporting figures, often working from photographs but allowing her own instinct and interpretation to lead the way.
2rtraits are particularly expressive, capturing not simply a likeness, but something of the character and spirit of the person.
She has also created a series of Nelson Mandela portraits, including one that was sold in England in support of the Mandela Foundation.
A lifelong love of the Eastern Cape runs through much of Mary's work—from cattle and horses to the Wild Coast and the people and landscapes she knows so well.
With years of experience behind her, Mary says her painting has become looser and more spontaneous. She thinks carefully before beginning a work, then paints with the confidence that comes from a lifetime of drawing.
And she is still at it—drawing, painting and creating every day.
Visit Mary Fowlds @ Jerry's during the Barefoot Arts Meander, 24–27 September.
Come and meet Mary, explore her collection and discover the wonderful stories behind a lifetime devoted to art.

04/05/2026

The colours in the photo of this painting are really washed out. I'm so struggling to get good images of my paintings. I know I'm not alone in this trial. But anyway, so it goes, I will try and try again, until I get it right. I'm happy with this painting, at last. The foreground was challenging. I kept changing and repainting it until what was in my mind settled on the board.
Looking forward to your feedback.

02/05/2026

Satisfying sturdy Lotus motif mugs to meet an online order. Thank you for your support on my website. It is appreciated 🙂🌿