Fiona Goldthorpe; Intimately “Capturing” The Spirit Of Africa

I discovered Fiona Goldthorpe a few years ago when I stumbled on a handsome artwork of hers; the Samburu warrior. Safe to say I have since been captivated and quite often moved by her art, which drawings are so meticulously detailed they can often be mistaken for photographs that beautifully capture the many faces of Africa. Call it hyper-realism or just plain realism, or even photorealism; her style and creations are bound to move you.

Fiona is a self-taught graphite artist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. and has been drawing for a short space of just 5 years. Her creations vividly reflect an undeniable passion for the African continent and the rich art it possesses- which is where she draws her inspiration “I am passionate about African portraiture, and my subject matter is based almost entirely around the great faces of this African continent- both human and animal.”

My aim is to capture the subject in an immersive, close-up way so that one is able to stare into the soul of that person/animal. Just like the medium I use depicts contrasts, so too is the core of my subject matter. Beauty and grit, strength and humility, power and vulnerability.

Fiona Goldthorpe

Her endeavour to capture the soul and raw emotion of her subjects comes through in every one of her completed artworks, as seen in the beautiful Turkana woman piece above. There is so much depth and beauty in her eyes, her face elegantly portrayed by the artist. One could look at her and not tire… I think art is meant to be that way; beautiful, moving.

The medium she uses to bring her pieces to life is charcoal and graphite on paper, as she believes they give her the tools to create drama, emotion and contrast.

I strive to push the limits of realism using both charcoal and graphite. I love these mediums for the drama and contrast I’m able to create.

Fiona Goldthorpe

It’s no surprise that her artworks have reached an international audience, with collectors from as far as Sydney, New York and beyond. She has also been featured in both local and international publications. Her most recently completed Nelson Mandela commission for a client in London will be hung in The House of Lords in Westminster, this she says is an “unbelievable privilege” for her. Fiona is currently represented by the Warren Cary Wildlife gallery in the Kruger National Park, which represents some of the top wildlife artists in Southern Africa, as well as Lisa Kings Artrader Gallery in Cape Town. She has been chosen by Fila South Africa to be their Brand Ambassador for LYRA Germany and Canson in South Africa.

Fiona Goldthorpe is definitely a photorealist of note and is making her mark in the exciting South African art scene. To see more of her beautiful works and the process and hours it takes to create these master pieces, you can follow her artistic journey and connect with her on Instagram at @fiona_goldthorpe.

Cheers to a life well-lived,

Makgoadi Ngoasheng