Art work honours Madiba
Valerie Beveridge's talent was evident as early as her Grade one year.
The artist from Parkdene drew a picture of a chicken hatching out of an egg while other children were drawing stick-men.
Beveridge’s talent continued to shine as she got older, and so many people approach her do drawings for them.
She uses any type of medium such as paint (oil and acrylic), colour pencils and oil pastels.
The local woman has done paintings of some of the world’s biggest names such as Oprah Winfrey, Princess Diana, Prince Charles and, now, in time for the former President’s birthday, Nelson Mandela.
“I just love art,” she says.
Her passion is clearly revealed in her work. For her, completing an art piece is like running a race.
“You get the same feeling as when you get in the shower after a run when you finish the piece,” says the star artist.
Her favourite artist who she met was the late Vladimir Trechikoff, who she also sees as her mentor.
Doing portraits of people can be emotionally though.
Beveridge once did a picture of a child who had just died at the request of the girl’s father.
“The mother of the child burst into tears when she saw the picture, as she felt the piece brought the little girl to life,” says Valerie.
Drawing is not Beveridge’s only passion. She also writes poetry and plans on publishing a poetry book one day.
