GEORGE - Artist Vivienne Miller invited the George Herald for a visit to view her extremely diverse collection of artworks at her home in Herold’s Bay which affords some glorious views over the lovely seaside village.
Vivienne grew up in Oudtshoorn, studied education and married a Karoo farmer from Prince Albert, whom she met at Herold’s Bay when they were still teenagers.
She has always had a love for drawing and painting and used to create pencil sketch postcards of Karoo houses in Prince Albert that she sold at the museum when they still lived there.
However, she only really started to paint once the couple moved to Herold’s Bay some 20 odd years ago.
Vivienne talks about her "inherited talent" and explains that her mother, her aunt and uncle were also very artistic.

She has had training at the Frank Joubert Art School in Rondebosch, studied for two years at the Grahamstown Art Centre and for another four years with the local artist Spies Venter of Voorbrug Art School in Great Brak River.
Some of Vivienne’s works have been exhibited at Strydom Art Gallery in George and many of her paintings can be viewed at The Bay Hotel in Herold’s Bay.

"Most of the homes in Herold’s Bay have paintings of mine in it," says Vivienne.
She explains that her style has always been diverse, varying from subtle pencil sketches and detailed water colours to loosely applied acrylics and even abstract painting. She finds her inspiration from everything that happens around her, but admits a special love for the ocean.

Vivienne works in various media, masterfully showing her skill in a wide variety of work ranging from watercolours, acrylic and painting on silk.

Article and photos: Michelle Pienaar



'Seeds' - a silk painting.