The name Hout Bay dates back to 1653, and relates to the quantity of excellent timber, from the Yellow Wood trees, which early Dutch settlers found to be growing in its ravines. The town is known for its harbour, which welcomes sailors and fishermen from all around the world. The first inhabitants, the San and the Khoi people, used to catch hake and crayfish in the bay and from the time of the Dutch settlers, the fishing trade developed with many countries, from Asia to America. Today, together with tourism, fishing continues to be an important source of income for the residents of the bay. 

Visit my online gallery for more images of local life, African animals and birds, botanical works and images of iconic buildings and places in and around Cape Town in both monochrome and colour.

Contact me:
by phone on +27 79 247 7532
by email to gutmansolly@gmail.com

Nelson Mandela (1918-2013), a world-wide iconic figure, and one of my best loved images. It was the 102nd anniversary of his birth on 18th July. South Africans have celebrated and commemorated his life as Mandela Day since 2009, remembering  his achievements in working towards conflict resolution, democracy, human rights, peace, and reconciliation.

My scratchboard work was completed in 2002 and was based on a picture published in a local Afrikaans newspaper, which gave me permission to use their photograph as a reference. The original work has been on exhibition at a number of galleries in and around Cape Town, and of course, various prints have been made for retail and even for a prize draw!

The full range of prints is still available through this website and for overseas customers prints and other lifestyle items featuring the image are available from Fine Art America.

For further information: contact me by phone on +27 79 247 7532 or by email to gutmansolly@gmail.com

​Rock kestrels are most often seen in rocky mountainous habitats in Southern Africa. Hence their name. Prey is caught on the ground and they feed mainly on small mammals, birds, insects and reptiles. They may also be seen perching on electricity poles along the roadside, looking for any unsuspecting prey; If there is no tall object to perch on, they will hover in the air to inspect the ground below. If they happen to see a tasty morsel they will parachute down holding both of their wings back behind their back to enable them to drop at a greater speed, like a skydiver with his hands behind his back.

Pop over and browse my online gallery for more  images of African animals and birds, botanical studies and
detailed images of iconic buildings and places in and around Cape Town in both monochrome and colour.

After a couple of days and nights of heavy rains and stormy weather the sun has come out and our winter flowing plants are out in all their brightest glory. One of these is the Cotyledon arbiculata, commonly known as 'Pig's Ears'. 

Native to South Africa, this plant with its attractive orange-red bell-shaped flowers, has a number of medicinal uses. The fleshy part of the leaf is applied to warts and corns. Heated leaves are used as poultices for boils and other inflammations. 

Browse through my online gallery for more  images of African animals and birds, botanical studies and
detailed images of iconic buildings and places in and around Cape Town in both monochrome and colour.