Tony de Freitas was born in 1950 with, it is rumoured , a pencil behind his ear not because of the Portuguese surname , but because for as

far back as he can remember, he was always drawing.

Taking art seriously throughout his school years , Tony regularly won the year-end art prizes , achieving a distinction for practical arts in Matric

. We were told however, that as many as ten years later , Tony's high school art teacher still kept a painting of Tony's up on the wall as a bad example of

someone who can paint like that but does nothing about to quote .

The real reason why Tony neglected his artistic talent , he tells , was that another love took precedence. In his early years , music was also in

his blood and with the advent of the Beatles , his interest in the guitar as an instrument was captured for ever. Proving highly versatile over the years ,

 Tony qualified to teach music at an early age and branched out into all styles , entertaining at many a function all over South Africa.

A few years ago Tony made the decision to fulfil his passion for painting by

spending his time with a? paint brush in his han-on a full time basis.

"I once read in an art book, Tony explains , that life's experiences are what the

canvas reflects the longer years , the more authentic the work.

Well known watercolourist and personal friend , Wallace Hulley , constantly

encouraged Tony to develop his talent. After joining the Somerset West

Watercolour Society ,Fellow enthusiasts requested workshop opportunities to

paint with him. Weekend after weekend at such painting sessions , other artists commented on Tony's ability to talk and paint at the

same time perhaps that is where the Portuguese bit fits in