The Artists of Hermanus

By Riesa Maree

For a town of its size, Hermanus has a remarkably rich creative life. Walk through the centre and you will find galleries, studios and craft markets within a few streets of one another. The reason is simple: this stretch of the Whale Coast gives artists an endless supply of subjects: the sea, the mountains, the fynbos and the wildlife.

Painting the Overberg

Many local painters are drawn to the landscape. The fynbos alone, with its proteas, ericas, restios and pincushions, offers colour and texture you could study for a lifetime. Others focus on the coastline: the Old Harbour, the fishing boats, the cliffs and the dramatic skies that roll in off the Atlantic.

A welcoming community

What makes Hermanus special is how open the creative community is. Artists share studios, exhibit together and support one another at markets and seasonal festivals. Visitors are welcome to step into galleries, meet the makers and watch work being created. It is the kind of place where a conversation about a painting can last an afternoon.

Buying local art

When you buy a piece from a Hermanus artist, you are taking home more than a painting. You are taking a piece of this coastline and supporting someone who lives and works here. Every original tells the story of a particular day, a particular light, a particular corner of the Whale Coast.

I am proud to be part of this community, and I hope my work brings a little of Hermanus into your home.