Ian Hertslet

"Long before leaving high school I knew that art had chosen me for a lifetime partnership.” Adman turned artist, Ian has an aptitude for abstract expressionism. Ian’s mother was an artist, so he had a paintbrush in his hand from a very young age. He worked as a professional illustrator in advertising - invaluable experience and taught him to work long hours under pressure.

After 20 years in the industry, he left to pursue a freelance career, giving him the opportunity to paint what he pleased. While many of his pieces have made their way to distant shores, many of his works seek to capture the beauty of South African landscapes.

He combines acrylics, oils and mixed media to give his works an abstract expressionist style. His bold and spontaneous style and unusual colour choices set his works apart.

“My approach has evolved from precious brushwork to far more spontaneous painting, constantly striving for new and interesting ways of seeing things.”