Antoinette van der Merwe was born on 7 October 1969 and grew up in Rustenburg, North West.

She matriculated at Bergsig High School with Art as a main subject.

Her love to paint was encouraged when she moved from Rustenburg to Hartbeespoort Dam, seven years ago. Here she enrolled at the Pieter Millard,

School of Art. She studied impressionism for almost 3 years with the well known and

beloved Pieter Millard, a popular name amongst investors.

Pieter Millard was a student of the late master, Adriaan Boshoff.

Art House Gallery opened its doors at Hartbeespoort Dam. Here paintings

of well known artists were sold by auction and all Antoinette van der Merwe’s work was sold every time.

This is where art dealers become interested in her work and she gave up her career as business woman to start painting full time.

The expert framer and artist Adriaan Boshoff jnr adds value to her paintings with his magnificent frames that compliment her art.

“I am so privileged to have so many well known artists around me”, she said. Her work has been inspired by Monet, Renoir and by South African

Impressionists Hugo Naude, Gregoire Boonzaier and Adriaan Boshoff. With mainly oils as a medium her paintings have a South African theme - land and

seascapes, figure studies, still life, etc. Her ability to apply short brush strokes with the balance between light and colour has caught the eye.

 In her paintings the interplay of light and shade are portrayed in happy lively colours, which create a peaceful atmosphere.

This is intensified by the alternative use of palette knife and paintbrush in a well

planned impasto technique. “What amazes me is that true light and colour as well

as emotion have been give to us by the Great Artist of all creation.” “If you look at

everyday scenes in nature, the sun shows you exactly where light and shadow needs to be painted and when you

paint figures they show you which emotion to capture”.