Christopher (Ciffy) Austin

b. 1955

Since a very young age, and all through school, I loved to draw, which was probably the biggest influence on my choice of architecture as a career.  I became an architect by profession but was always an artist by inclination.

I began painting seriously in 2000 and have had the privilege of studying under artists such as Ryno Swart and, more recently, Marcelle Lyons.  Although oil is my preferred medium, I also enjoy using charcoal and, occasionally, pastels.

As an architect, I was engaged in understanding and creating a sense of place.  Every structure belongs to  a place and every moment of our lives unfolds in a particular time and place.  Indeed, all our memories are inseparable from the places in which they are formed. The idea of Home is clearly bound to place.

The Latin phrase “Genius Loci” translates as “the spirit of a place”.  As a  landcape painter, I aim to capture and share the spirit of the places that I paint.  

My exploration of the South African landscape provides the perfect excuse to travel the back roads by motocycle or spend time fishing along its magnificent coastline.  These journeys continually inspire my work and deepen my appreciation of the landscapes that I paint.

I hope that you enjoy my paintings as much as I have enjoyed creating them.

I live in Cape Town, South Africa.