Yvonne lives in Hoedspruit, a lively little town in the Greater Kruger, where she and her husband run a welcoming bush retreat. Surrounded by wildlife and wide African skies, it’s here that she finds much of her daily inspiration.
She has a real passion for plein air painting, getting outside with a sketchbook or brush in hand and capturing the moment as it unfolds. With a diploma in art and as an Associate of the Watercolor Society of South Africa, Yvonne brings both skill and enthusiasm to her teaching. Twice, in 2010 and 2019, she was invited to Paris as an Artist in Residence at the Cité des Arts, where she worked alongside artists from around the globe.
At home, Yvonne regularly hosts art retreats and workshops, helping guests discover the joy of painting outdoors and keeping art travel journals. While watercolor is her specialty, she also loves to play with inks, graphite, and pastels to bring extra light and texture into her work. Her large landscapes have been shown in galleries in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and she also co-runs a Wildlife Art Gallery in Hoedspruit.
When she’s not in South Africa, Yvonne often spends part of the year at sea as an Artist in Residence, naturalist, and lecturer on expedition ships. Her travels have taken her everywhere from Antarctica to the Arctic, where she paints and teaches while witnessing firsthand the dramatic changes in these fragile environments.
Yvonne is not only an accomplished artist but also a warm, encouraging tutor who loves helping others grow their creativity, whether you’re picking up a brush for the first time or returning to an old passion.