A journey through abstract realism and the raw stories of nature.

Martli Heyns B. 1969, Gauteng, South Africa

Growing up in South Africa, a connection with animals and the natural world has always been part of how I experience life. Whether encountering wildlife in their natural habitats or sharing everyday moments with pets and farm animals, I have long been fascinated by the individuality, beauty and quiet presence of every creature.

Today I create contemporary artworks that balance realism with abstraction, inviting collectors to see familiar animals and landscapes in a completely new way.

My commitment to animals and our planet also extends beyond the canvas. Through my artwork and personal contributions, I support domestic animal rescue organisations, wildlife conservation initiatives and environmental projects both in South Africa and internationally.

Although my creative journey began in childhood, my professional art career started much later in life. My passion for painting grew alongside my other business, a website design agency, which still helps support my artistic endeavours.

I love the freedom of transcending traditional boundaries and am constantly discovering new meduims, techniques, textures, and colour dynamics.

I combine careful observation with expressive abstraction to create paintings that evoke more than physical likeness. Layered textures, vibrant colour, energetic brushwork and areas of intentional simplicity or abstraction allow me to explore the essence of an animal rather than merely documenting its appearance. My aim is to create work that invites viewers to pause, look more closely, and form a personal connection with the subject.

Outside the studio, I’m a wife, a mom to two amazing kids and daughter-in-law, and a grandma to a wonderful grandson. I also share my home with five very opinionated and spoiled cats!

Memberships & Associations

Association of Animal Artists

Member

The Wildlife Art Society International

Associate Member

The Society of Feline Artists

Associate Member

Watercolor Art Southern Africa

Member

Association for Visual Arts

Member

Visual Arts Network of South Africa

Member

“I don’t want to make something that just sits on the wall, I want my work to feel raw, and somewhat incomplete - like it’s still breathing.”

Art Fairs, Exhibitions & Galleries

Ongoing: Imbizo Art (Hoedspruit, South Africa)

The Artists Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa (10 Oct – 8 November 2025)

Affordable art fair Hong Kong (May 2025)

Affordable art fair Singapore (Nov 2024)

Mediums I use

I love many different mediums, including watercolour, pen and ink, mixed media, printmaking, acrylic, oils, and collage. I find that each medium offers a different opportunity for self-expression and personal growth as an artist.

My Inspiration

I am mostly inspired by the natural world, but I do believe that artistic inspiration is everywhere. Work that is representational may have a clearer source of inspiration, while my abstract work is inspired by an emotion, a colour, a memory, subject matter, music, poetry, pattern or texture.

I paint or draw what I love, while trying to connect the physical world with the temporal. To some extent, my intention has always been to merge abstraction with realism.