Kevin Collins studied at Michaelis School of Fine Art, UCT in 1976-79 majoring in painting. His lecturers, Stanley Pinker, Helmut Starke, and Cecil Skotness, influenced his use of colour, and composition and he speaks of how he came to put together a portfolio, although had not made much real art until then.

He had to be frugal, as the son of a single-parent mother; his father having died in his teens. He laughingly remembers having five or so canvases, that he had to reuse. A limited few tubes of oil paint, and a gift, a large tube of flake white. All his large canvases became a landscape on which a series of still-life objects float, accumulating a narrative. His inspiration was Cecil Scotness who suggested he collect all of his little drawings on pieces of paper and bus tickets. In order to reproduce on canvas what became a linked story.

The subtlety of colour and surface texture Collins makes became layered with objects, memories collected from his travels. Small sketches of little bits of visual imagery from packaging, transport tickets, and sweet wrappers.

After graduating in Fine Arts, Collins worked in advertising and brand communication. He did not paint for twenty years - a not uncommon situation when our lives are focused on earning. Illness caused him to refocus his priorities and he began to paint again. He began painting small works of animals, which were the topic of his first solo show in 2003 titled ‘The Taxonomy of non-endangered Species’ at Gallery Moja in Johannesburg. He was encouraged by success, having sold most of the 50 works at the show.

Kevin continued painting and has contributed to numerous group shows in Johannesburg, and exhibited at Stephanie Hoppen Gallery in London starting in 2009 until the gallery closed in 2017. He continues to participate in group shows in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and London.

Images below with permission from Kevin Collins. The artist’s opinions are their own. Audio edits by Dan Dewes. “East West Village” by Tim Garland & Asaf Sirkis.