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Jenny grew up on
the outskirts of Johannesburg where
there was an abundance of wildlife and indigenous flora on the doorstep
and
this nurtured in her a life-long love for nature. Hours rambling
through the surrounding veld
offered
an opportunity to study plants, birds and insects up close. And regular
visits to Southern Africa's wonderful Game Parks entrenched in
her a
love of the continent's large majestic animals.
Her talent and love of art led to a Diploma in Graphic Design from the
Johannesburg College of Art. This translated into a career in Graphic
Design which included 25 years in which she co-owned and ran a
successful
Design
Studio. All through these years she painted and explored
three-dimensional ceramic sculptures in her spare time. She received a
Highly Commended
in 1984
for her ceramics and a number of her pieces were purchased by the
Lichtenburg
Art Gallery, Durban National Museum and the Permanent Building
Society's Art
Collection.
In the mid 2000's Jenny moved to a farm in the Magaliesberg area and
devoted
herself to painting full time. The magnificent flora, fauna and
creatures of these beautiful hills and dales started to dominate the
subjects
portrayed on
her easel and her work has met with success over the intervening years.
Jenny's botanical paintings started with a commission to illustrate a
garden
guide and calendar for Brenthurst Garden, home to the Oppenheimer
family, and one of the 'Great Gardens of The World'. Her detailed
Botanical
paintings
have won Gold Medals at all three Kirstenbosch Biennale's which she has
entered (2006, 2008 and 2013) with her 2008 pieces being named
'Best on
Show'. Jenny was invited to produce a painting for the 62nd Volume of
'Flowering Plants of Africa' printed in 2011. And 2014 saw her Eulophia
(welwitschia) zeyherii painting being awarded the Gold Medal at the
21st World Orchid Congress, held in Johannesburg. She had a painting
selected for
the 15th Hunt International Botanical Art and Illustration Exhibition
in the USA and it is now forms part of their collection. In 2016 Jenny
received 'Best
on Show' at the Plant Exhibition and both botanicals were purchased for
the prestigious Shirley Sherwood Collection permanently housed at
the Royal
Gardens in Kew, UK.
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Jenny's bird paintings have been accepted every year at the Leigh
Yawkey
Woodson Art Museum's, 'Birds In Art' exhibitions in the USA since 2008.
An image of her 2011 painting was used as a poster to advertise the
exhibition.
And since that year her bird paintings have been further selected to
accompany
the work of 59 other international artists on 'Birds in Art' year-long-tours of the USA. In 2014 the Museum purchased her
'Impangele'
(Guineafowl) painting for their permanent collection.
Jenny's wildlife paintings have hung in London's Mall Gallery with
David
Shepherd and his 'Wildlife Artist of the Year' exhibitions. Her
paintings have been accepted every year from 2009 to 2014 and in 2010 her
portrait of a
wild dog was awarded a 'Highly Commended'.
Jenny moved in late 2010 to the beautiful Malmani Nature Reserve
situated in
the World Heritage Site of the Cradle of Humankind. It has magnificent
views over the ancient Magaliesberg mountain range and the area is
world
renowned for
it's abundant hominid and animal fossil finds. More than 3500 wild
flower species inhabit this highveld region and the bird list numbers
nearly
400 species. A variety of wildlife still roam the hills and dales and
all these continue to inspire and provide subjects for her work. Jenny
has
produced
several commissions and her work is in demand by private collectors. Select pieces are available at The Cape Gallery, Cape Town
as well
as the Everard Read Gallery and The Gables Gallery both in Johannesburg. Examples of her work can be seen on www.jennyhyde-johnson.com.
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