Stylish and colourful, Frederike Stokhuyzen’s tree, flower and landscape studies are deeply rooted in her love and knowledge of nature. Together with her husband, John White, a Bentley enthusiast she has toured South Africa, the UK, USA, Europe, Canada and Australia, pulling off the road whenever Frederike spotted a striking scene and pausing while she sketched it in pen and wash. Later, at home in her studio, she transformed these sketches into bold designs on canvas applying the oil paint with deft palette knife strokes.
Frederike believes that fine art and well-crafted design are key to creating a home environment that promotes harmony. Frederike was ‘Born to be an artist’. In her joyful and disciplined approach to her career spanning over 60 years, she has never wavered from her principles.
Encouraged by her Dutch parents, she signed up for a B.A. Fine Arts majoring in Design at Rhodes University in 1956. Upon graduating in 1960 she set off for London to spend a year at the Central School of Arts and Crafts. Here she took up stained glass window and mural design as well as clay modelling and gained exposure to the bold designs of the English Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and Art Deco. Prior to WWI &WWII, fine artists, glass artists, furniture makers and architects formed guilds and often collaborating on a single project, reacting to the shoddy craftsmanship of industrially produced products that were deemed soulless. Frederike shares the pervasive philosophy of the artists and craftsmen in these guilds, that good design has the capacity to improve lifestyle.
Frederike’s own unique vision. her innate creativity and intuitive approach to her art, as well as her honesty and careful observation, have underpinned her reputation as artist esteemed by those who collect her paintings.
Frederike has repeatedly participated in prestigious group exhibitions in South Africa and abroad, In the U K at The Royal Institute of oil painters, The Royal Institute Winter Salon and The Royal Society of British Artists. She has shown solo in London at the Mall Galleries and Fraser Carver Gallery, the Jersey Channel Isles.
In France at The Paris Salon (Salon des Artistes Francaise), in Germany South African Watercolour exhibition Nuremberg.
In S.A.; at South African Art Today, also the prestigious Republic Exhibition, Durban. Frederike has regularly participated in the Grahamstown Festival of arts.
Frederike has also had regular solo exhibitions in South Africa and Namibia. The Cape Gallery has had the pleasure of showing her paintings for the past two decades.
Frederike’s paintings are found in private collections in Germany, France, Holland, Britain, the USA, Canada, Australia and South Africa.
Opening 12th March at 4.30 pm at The Cape Gallery, 60 Church Street, Cape Town 8001
Duration of Exhibition 12th March – 31st March 2023