Denise York

I studied art for 4 years after matric at the College for Advanced Technical Education (C.A.T.E.) in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. My two majors were History of Art and Painting .Some of my other subjects were Drawing, Photography,  Graphic Art, Silkscreen Printing and Methods of Teaching.

After college I taught various art subjects for 6 years at high schools in P E and Johannesburg.

I took my 3 months long leave and met Derek who was an insurance broker. Soon I joined the Life Assurance Industry and became a broker. I worked in Johannesburg near my Art Studio.

I exhibited my art monthly at Zoo Lake, Johannesburg. This was good for me, as I painted all month for the next exhibition.  I met many people and started painting oil portraits for them on canvas.

Derek bought me an etching press from Japan. I struggled to get it working as the instructions were in Japanese and the parts were unassembled in a box. The press spent some decades lying in the box as I could not get help assembling it. I went to Clarens for a 3 day art course. There I met 2 artists who told me about Mimi, a master etcher in Pretoria. I joined her Saturday etching class and with the help of photo’s she got my press working.

I still thank Derek and Mimi for my etching press. I love the technique and have printed many etchings on my wonderful Japanese press.

I now have 2 studio’s – one in Johannesburg and one in Harkerville (between Plettenberg Bay and Knysna) in South Africa. I love etching the sea and Nguni cattle in Harkerville.

In Plettenberg Bay I took some Nguni etches to be framed some years ago, and now they often contact me for art work that they sell for me. The shop is called Milkwood Framing.

I have wonderful clients like Este Stemmet in Mossel Bay, Lara Stemmet and Jacques Stemmet in Cape Town, Max Swartz, Andrea and Jon Osburn, Debbie Hoff, Martin Latham, Rubin van Niekerk, Iris and Fred Terry, Rob Evins, Adri, Maggie van Niekerk, Michelle York, Lorraine Maritz, Wilmien, Dina and Peter Latham.