Contemporary South African Artist

Emma's story

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Bold brushstrokes, vibrant colours, big canvasses and contemporary themes characterise my work. A cross-section of themes with personal favourites of Nostalgic Memories, Contemporary Portraits, Wildlife, Flowers and Landscapes. I am inspired by beautiful, striking images to work from. I am compelled to paint and am amazed by the output and end result.

The reaction I get from clients to my work, propels me and I find it very exciting! The sale of my work is personal validation and I am excited that I now have work in the UK, USA, Australia, Scandinavia, Ghana, Japan, Ireland, and South Africa.

In June 2021, we moved from Durban, South Africa, where my husband Nic and I own Westville B&B, an art-themed, five-star Bed & Breakfast, to Cork in Ireland. Hospitality and Art… a wonderful combination and of course, a wonderful platform where I showcased and sold my work.

I love doing bespoke art pieces and commissions for clients. Nothing beats the look on their faces when they see their special memory or loved one, in art form. Goose flesh stuff! I call myself a “re-born” artist and my art career started in 2016, and I haven’t looked back!

Hospitality Queen, Artist & Creative Entrepreneur

Self-portrait by the artist Emma JAcobs with her husband in the background

Emma's background

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My sister and I went to Art lessons from when we were small, and I was fortunate enough to be taught by the amazing Nina Campbell-Quine at her Hyde Park Child Art Studio. I took Art as a school subject through to Matric.

I attended art workshops to learn and grow as an artist and was the founder of Durban Art Workshops in Westville, Durban where I helped other artists grow too. We ran these from our B&B: 18 Burlington B&B and Conference VenueI love the learning and self-discovery journey of art and participated in a weekly art class for practicing artists with Dee Donaldson at Studio 3.

Exhibitions & Galleries

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I have exhibited at the Hilton Arts Festival, Art in the Shade in Mtunzini, KZNSA Gallery’s Buzzart, Art in the Park in Pietermaritzburg, and The Aesthete Clarens Art Experience in the Free State.

In March 2020, I held a solo exhibition at The Foyer at Studio 3 in Durban which ran for three weeks.

My primary avenue of sales was through my Emma Jacobs Art Gallery at our art-themed Westville B&B, Durban and through my own website. I love the business side of art and interacting with clients directly. People and Painting, my two passions!

I was represented by the following Art Galleries:

All of my available work can be found on my https://emmajacobsart.com shop and can be viewed in person in Cork, Ireland. Contact me on emma@emmajacobsart.com for more information on available art pieces and commissions.

Your commission Is my passion!

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Emma Jacobs with Charmaine Schwenn and commissioned painting

CONTACT EMMA

I'd love to turn that special moment or treasured photo into a gorgeous piece of art for you ... please contact me, I love seeing the look of delight on my clients' faces when the see their artwork!

emma@emmajacobsart.com 

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My Portfolio

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Street Scenes

  I painted this as part of a Winsor & Newton Art Challenge hosted by the South African Artist Magazine.  It was my first street scene and I found it...
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Birds

With their beauty, grace, and beautiful colours, birds are a natural subject choice. These birds have found new nests in homes across South Africa and with collectors in the United...
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Pet Portraits

There truly is nothing like the love of our beloved pets. I started with a painting of our little Scottish Terrier, Maggie which I sold very quickly at an art...
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Figures/ People

Painting people in places, is my way of capturing happy memories in a beautiful unique artwork. Landscapes and seascapes with people represent a time of making holiday and family memories, earning...
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Still Life

Still Life painting capturing special objects that have a meaning or form part of a painting project. The great masters were knows for their elaborate Still Life Paintings capturing everyday...
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Seascapes & Water

I set myself a water challenge and decided to paint favourite places for our family: Point Yacht Club in Durban, Ballito Beach up the North Coast, Llandudno Beach in Cape...
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Animals

We were so blessed to have lived in Africa and to have shared our beautiful wildlife with our visitors to South Africa. Art collectors were able to take an original...
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Portraits

My first Portrait Commission was for a Los Angeles Lawyer who stayed with us at Westville B&B, en-route to a Safari at the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Park. Capturing the essence of...
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Floral

  Flowers and beautiful colours are synonymous and I love painting things that bring colour to my life!
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