Collection: Jenny Boon

Jenny Boon was born in 1975 in Pretoria. She graduated with a Fine Arts degree from the University of Pretoria in 1997, where she received several awards for her work.

From 1998 to 2005, she lived in the Netherlands, where the light and atmosphere of European forests strongly influenced her painting style. After returning to South Africa in 2005 with her family, she began focusing on local landscapes, particularly Pretoria’s Jacaranda trees and indigenous South African flora. She works both in her studio and en plein air, with a strong focus on light, place, and memory.

Her work also explores historical sites, including mission stations, often inspired by research into South Africa’s heritage. Alongside painting, she developed a passion for illustration after continuing projects linked to her late brother, illustrator Alex van Houwelingen. She has contributed to several children’s books, including work with author Jaco Jacobs, and won the 2021 “Ken jou Storie” competition with a book she wrote.

While she is active in illustration and writing, oil painting remains her primary artistic focus and enduring passion.