INSPIRED by a photograph in the Northglen News last year, Durban North resident artist Bernard Hathrill set out to recreate the image in an oil painting.

His attention to every minute detail of the photograph was captured in ultra-realism, so much so that it is sometimes difficult to discern if the artwork is a photo or a painting.

The 80-year-old only began his artistic journey 11 years ago and has already painted 104 masterpieces.

In his own words, he took to painting like ‘a duck to water’ and hasn’t looked back since, even recently starting his first artist Facebook page.

Hathrill, who specialises in oil paintings, loves to paint landscapes and seascapes.

“In 2011, I completed my first-ever oil painting. My wife, Joanne, asked me what I will do when I go on retirement, and I said painting. I bought an easel and began painting on Saturday and Sunday evenings, and I haven’t looked back since. I’ve always been artistic, but I had never lifted a paint brush or done anything remotely similar in school. It just came naturally to me,” he said.

The Kenneth Kaunda Road resident also spoke about his inspiration around the photo of the iconic uMhlanga Lighthouse and beach on a summer’s day that appeared in September this year.

“Though the article was on the beach closures, I was mesmerised by the scenery. I had begun putting together a series of paintings for galleries in the area, and when I saw this photo, I thought I would love to paint this. In all, it took me around 20 hours to complete, and I’m the sort of person who pays attention to every detail. I paint from what I see, and I like to be precise about it,” he said.

Hathrill, who recently surpassed his 100th painting, said he had also attempted to recreate his very first painting.

“My first painting was of the Valley of Desolation just outside Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape. I had made a promise to myself that my 100th painting would be special, and I decided I was going to recreate and repaint that piece. I want to improve all the time, and that was my motivation for redoing the piece with everything I’ve learned since 2011. I’m the type of artist that wants my paintings to look like a photo, almost hyperrealistic, and I hope those who view my work agree,” he said.

To view more of Hathrill’s amazing work, visit his Facebook page: Bernard Clark Hathrill.