International Launch for Benguela Artists

Artists exhibiting at Benguela Gallery near Hermanus in South Africa are making their UK debut in a new exhibition at Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens in West Sussex. Both venues are owned by hospitality entrepreneur Penny Streeter OBE, who champions emerging UK and South African artists. 

Visitors to Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate can enjoy the curated exhibition ‘The Art of Living: 30 African Artists’ this summer. There is free entry and no booking required to the gallery, which is open for public viewing daily from 10am to 6pm.  

Penny Streeter says, “We are thrilled to have these new works by South African artists for our UK gallery. The grounds at Leonardslee in England provide the perfect backdrop for showcasing art, with their woodlands and lakes and beautiful interior areas in Grade II listed Leonardslee House," she says.  

In the coming months, Leonardslee will bring more art to the UK to showcase South African talent. Both venues feature sculpture parks, with the grounds of Leonardslee hosting monumental pieces by Anton Smit in the largest outdoor exhibition of sculptures by a single artist in Europe this year. 

"There is an exciting modernist feel to the paintings we have curated; there is a rich diversity of art, but a unifying theme is the large scale of many of the pieces and their bright and impressionistic style.  

“Visitors to the two estates are impressed, with a number of sales already to our local and international visitors. We all need to be reminded every day how beautiful the world around us can be, especially when we take the time to recognise it in the representations by these talented artists," says Penny Streeter. 

The art gallery collections reflect her family’s passion for excellence and support for the arts and conservation, and provide a platform for new and established artists to showcase their work. 

About Benguela Cove

Benguela Cove is a specialist wine producer and a residential and hospitality estate on the Hermanus Wine Route in the Walker Bay region of the Cape Winelands, on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Visitor attractions include luxury villa accommodation for rental, wine-tasting cruises on the lagoon, an oyster bar and the Moody Lagoon restaurant with its seasonal menu and fresh local produce.

The Benguela Cove exhibition features artists with a wide range of contemporary styles and materials, says gallery curator Charlene Uys. In the relaxed atmosphere of the gallery and outside areas overlooking the lagoon and distant mountains, guests can view the paintings and sculptures while enjoying award-winning estate wines. Guests are invited to reflect, explore and experience the art of living.  

Featured artists at Benguela Gallery include Sabelo Mkhaliphi, Stephanie Reith, Betzy Geldenhuys, Tharien Smith, Ilze Coetzee, Rita Knoetze, David van der Merwe and Pieter de Villiers. 

Charlene Uys says, “The exhibition is a great opportunity for these artists. The gallery offers a beautiful, airy space with large walls and natural light, in which the artworks’ colours glow. The space really brings out the character of each painting, including the large artworks, which may be viewed from a distance and then experienced up close, for different perspective and interpretation.”    

The 220-hectare wine farm estate, set in the UNESCO-designated Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, offers panoramic views of the Whale Coast, Palmiet mountains, vineyards, and olive groves, as well as a spectacular array of bird and marine life. 

The estate offers a variety of activities for local and international guests of all ages, including gourmet dining, lagoon wine-tasting cruises, vineyard tours, and private wine blending, as well as children's entertainment and an active events calendar. 

For further information: www.benguelagalleries.com  

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Editors notes

Benguela Cove Lagoon Wine Estate, Hermanus, is a vineyard and wine tourism destination located in the Walker Bay region of South Africa. The Benguela Collection wine and hospitality group is owned by the Streeter family. Benguela Collection includes Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens and Mannings Golf & Wine Estate in the UK.

It was founded by Penny Streeter OBE in 2013 when she acquired and developed the 543-acre Hermanus wine farm and residential estate at Benguela Cove, located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean at the start of the Hermanus Wine Route.

The cellar door, wine hospitality experience includes the ‘Moody Lagoon’ Hermanus restaurant and a popular wine-tasting pontoon tour with beautiful views across the tranquil lagoon, protected by a sandbar from the Atlantic Ocean. There are also cheese and chocolate pairings, winemaking experiences, and a programme of major art exhibitions, music and other year-round events, as well as children’s entertainment.

Cultivars are Sauvignon Blanc 45%, Shiraz 25% and others, to create some of the best South African wines.

Vineyard - Acquired in 2013; 170 acres; First vines planted in 2004; 500,000 bottles produced per year.