ORIGINAL ACRYLIC PAINTING. Seascape with bushes in foreground. Well known S A artist Francois Gouws.

The following information was taken from the "South African Artist's Directory"

Media - Oil Paintings, Acrylic Paintings, Silkscreen

Francois Gouws was Born in Molteno, South Africa on 30 October 1959. He spent his childhood years on a farm near Molteno in the Eastern Cape province. The roots of his interest in art were developed by the strong influence of well known South African writer and painter Johannes Meintjes, who was his first art tutor. Francois Gouws matriculated in 1977 in Molteno. Obtained B.Pharm. degree at the Potchefstroom University from 1978 - 1981. During 1982 - 1984 Francois Gouws spent two years doing national military service and an officer's course in the South African Medical Services.

His formal art training started in 1990 at the WITS Technikon Fine Art department in Johannesburg, during which period Francois Gouws obtained the following awards: 1990 - Best first year student, 1991 - Award for print making (2nd Yr.), 1992 - Award for drawing (3rd Yr.). During this period Francois was strongly influenced by teacher and print maker Philipa Hobbs. Francois' present work is strongly influenced by internationally renowned pop artist Andy Warhol - although his approach is more painterly and the silkscreen effect less obvious. He has participated in many art exhibitions and his work is sold in South Africa as well as overseas.