I’m Joni-Leigh, a South African artist inspired by my deep connection and appreciation for nature and other animals. Formally trained in Graphic Design, Illustration and Photography (Grad. CPUT, 2003 with an ND in Graphic Design), I left full time employment as senior designer in the publishing sector in 2009 in order to pursue a career in fine art. I worked under South African artist Ryno Swart for 10 years and during this time also furthered my self study of the techniques of oil painting through online workshops with international artists such as Casey Baugh and Adam Clague.

I have been a consecutive finalist in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year competition. Wherever possible, I use my voice as a painter to raise awareness that humans need other animals and natural spaces as much as they need our respect and protection. Whether leaning towards abstract or representational painting, I maintain a strong interest in exploring these relationships and our collective dependence on them. My work on this theme has been widely sold locally and internationally and has won awards, most notably as winner in the Facing Extinction category of the David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year competition in association with BBC Wildlife in September 2022. I am also a Portrait 100 participant in the 2023 Portrait Award. From April 2024 - April 2025 I opened and ran my own small studio gallery in McGregor where I currently live, and I am currently working on a new body of work from my home studio while exploring conservation orientated painting residencies as well as representational relationships with galleries in South Africa and the UK.

My primary objective through my work is to articulate the critical blurring of the line between humans, other animals and natural spaces, and the importance of nature and wildlife in our collective psyche, well-being and survival.

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PAST EXHIBITIONS, EVENTS & FEATURES & AWARDS

13 June: Group Exhibition “Steadfast Steed” curated by Lauren and Gustav Vink at the Trent Gallery, Pretoria.

May 2025: Group Exhibition with the New Artist Collective at Cloud Cafe, De Waterkant, WC.

April 2024 - May 2025: Opening and running of the Joni-Leigh Doran Studio Gallery in McGregor, WC.

7 October - 29 October 2023: Group exhibition “Coalescence” at La Galleria, McGregor, WC

4 September - 13 October 2023: Portrait 100 Exhibition at Spier Arts Trust Union House Exhibition Space in Cape Town CBD

19th - 30th July 2023: International Group Exhibition “Contemporary Painting” at The Brick Lane Gallery, Central London.

September 2022: Winner in the “Facing Extinction” category of the David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year competition in association with BBC Wildlife.

Jan - Feb 2022: Solo Exhibition “Cognisance; an Exhibition of Equine Paintings” at La Galleria McGregor

September 2020: David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation’s Featured Artist of the Month.


August 2020: South African Artist Magazine - cover and 6 page feature.

June 2020: David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation’s Wildlife Artist of the Year 2020 Finalist

November 2019: Featured in Saatchi Collection "New This Week 2-11-2019"

Feb 2019 - May 2019: Solo Exhibition at De Wetshof Wine Estate in Robertson, South Africa.

April 2017 - September 2017: participated in regular monthly group exhibitions Goldsmith's Gallery / Loop St, Cape Town.

April 2017 - June 2017: "WINGS" group exhibition at Ibis Gallery in Montagu, South Africa.

October 2016: Familiar Faces: An Exhibition of Portraits, group exhibition at Montagu Museum / Montagu, South Africa.

September 2016: AGOG Gallery Group exhibition "REVERIE" / Johannesburg, South Africa.

February 2016: Singapore / collaborative exhibition with poet Julieta Timane.

Press

NGO’s and Non Profits proudly supported by
Joni-Leigh through painting sales: