Thea Darlow
Thea Darlow's expressionistic painting style is constantly evolving through the use of mixed media and an exploration of colour. She received her early art training under renowned South African artist Laura Wenman, learning the importance of drawing, perspective, observation, and art history. Thea later studied oil painting and developed her own distinct style, further refining her technique through workshops with artists like Ryno Swart and Jenny Merritt, who encouraged her to embrace large-scale, abstract work using bold acrylics.
Thea’s work is inspired by the landscapes and rural life of Southern Africa. She is especially drawn to painting donkeys, cattle, and the flora of the African countryside. Her Zimbabwean heritage plays a significant role in her art, particularly the Matobo Hills, where she grew up. The area’s dramatic granite outcrops and its spiritual significance evoke themes of divinity, and the ancient, which Thea captures in her work.
In Cape Town, Thea has focused on the striking views of Lions Head and the Stony Pine trees growing on the slopes of Table Mountain. The tall, wind-bent trees evoke a sense of resilience, and their interwoven canopies remind her of stained-glass windows. These landscapes also hold spiritual reverence for both Islamic and African Apostolic faiths, which Thea incorporates into her paintings.
Born in Gwanda, Zimbabwe, Thea grew up on a ranch in Matabeleland, where her parents encouraged a life of creativity and connection to nature. Her mother, Joan, a respected watercolour artist, instilled in Thea her love of painting. After moving to South Africa in her twenties, Thea began painting full-time and now works from her studio in Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, where the beauty of the surrounding landscapes continues to inspire her.
Thea Darlow - Early Morning Market Trade - Acrylic on canvas - 84 x 59 cm - R13 500
Thea Darlow - Inner Peace - Acrylic on canvas - 61 x 91 cm - R13 500
Thea Darlow - Reflect - Acrylic on canvas - 76 x 102 cm - R13 500
Thea Darlow - Weskus Flowers - 120 x 90 cm - Acrylic on canvas - R13 500