Sheila Cooper- Collins. Painter

Artist in studio

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Acclaimed for mastering how to make rhino and elephant dung paper and then printing her paintings on them, Sheila Cooper-Collins is an adventurous artist, successful with many diverse techniques.

Her work with painting or printing on dung paper has been copied by artists all over the world. She now concentrates on painting and runs sought after art workshops.

Working with a vast range of styles and exploring many mediums including oils, acrylics, watercolours, pastels and multimedia.

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South African born, Sheila studied Fine Art at the University of Witwatersrand where she met the world-renowned anthropologists, Professors Raymond Dart and Philip Tobias, for whom she undertook archaeological artwork. Sheila researched and recorded San Rock Art working in the wild from a caravan and gaining a love and understanding of the bush and wildlife. She began painting and exhibiting with her first solo exhibition in 1980. Later in Mooi River, Sheila taught as Head of the Art Department at Treverton College.

In 1992 she moved to Sedgefield and here she was able to fully explore and develop her creativity including making hand- made paper. In 1996 Sheila and her family, raised R350,000 with her rhino and elephant dung paper which she had printed her paintings on. This was used by a wildlife trust to publish the book on the history of the Knysna Elephants by Margo Mackay and also for the Environmental Education Program at the Knysna Elephant Park.

In 2001 Sheila was commissioned to design a set of commemorative stamps of marine life for South Africa. She was awarded Best Stamp design and Best Artist for 2001 by the Philatelic Society.

Visit her studio by appointment and see what she is currently working on.