With the Southern African wilderness areas and game parks on his doorstep, Jean Abrie has become one of South Africa’s foremost and most exciting wildlife artists over the past 20 years. Born in the former Eastern Transvaal, he later spent his early childhood years in Zimbabwe where his great love for wildlife has developed. After returning to South Africa, he went on to complete his secondary schooling and also completed his graduate studies at the University of Pretoria a few years later.

Operating from his studio in Pretoria, he is an avid conservationist and wildlife enthusiast and he regularly undertakes photographic research trips to game reserves and wilderness areas throughout Africa, to study and admire the very subjects that he loves to paint. He sees his art as a way of contributing towards the awareness and preservation of wildlife in Africa. His desire is to draw people into the world of wildlife and nature conservation and create awareness by portraying the many exciting unexpected changes and moods on the continent.

Collectors range from large multinational companies in US, Europe and South Africa as well as individual businessmen and private collectors from all over the world. Participation and invitations to the largest wildlife art shows and exhibitions in the USA on a regular basis, has become a regular feature of his career and he has done so with great success, in New York, London, Charleston, Seattle, Reno, Ft. Lauderdale, Naples and Orlando.

Apart from wildlife, he is also an accomplished figurative artist, producing a large number of paintings in a contemporary realistic style with vibrant colors and broad brush strokes, which provides the opportunity to work in a style very different to photo realism. The refreshing change in styles and palette strengthens perceptions of color and form to a large extent.