As a wildlife artist & avid animal lover Ilse is committed to the conservation of wild animals & their ever diminishing natural habitats. "It has always been my aspiration to contribute towards conservation causes through my art. Being a member of AFC is a testament of this. Every year I try to be involved with at least two worthy Conservation projects & to help them raise much needed funds & awareness through my art."

2017 brought two major causes to which Ilse committed her time & artwork. The first was the Timbavati Conservation fund for which she donated three Black & white paintings to raise funds. These three paintings were auctioned off at the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve AGM on Saturday evening the 8th of July & raised R30 000. This money will be channelled towards the many projects they run educating the scholars in the rural areas about nature, animals & conservation (see www.timbavati.org) The second project was to raise funds for the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (HESC) This centre has cheetahs as its prime focus, but also cares for rhino & elephant calves that have been left as orphans due to poaching (see www.hesc.org) one of their beautiful cheetahs, named Chrunchie,  that was born at this facility. This painting was auctioned of at a function in New York, USA to raise funds for the centre.

Ilse also did a painting of two Black rhinos that was auctioned off in Midland, West Texas on the 20th of January 2018. The proceeds of this painting where all donated towards the Rhino anti-poaching unit of the Bubye Valley Conservancy in Zimbabwe. This unit has the huge task of protecting the rhinos within the conservancy throughout the year.

 

"Animals have always been my passion & living in South Africa, it would be natural to want to depict our wonderful animals in their natural environment. I am extremely fortunate & blessed to bring these animals alive on canvas with my paints & brushes."

Ilse de Villiers was born in Durban (South Africa) and grew up in the picturesque, tree lined city of Pietermaritzburg in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. She currently lives in the district of Tzaneen (Limpopo Province) surrounded by the most beautiful green hills and valleys.

Through the use of acrylic on canvas, she creates a new world by skillfully harmonizing wild animals with their natural habitat. The meticulous detail of her paintwork is unique to her style. She specializes particularly in painting the "Big Five" as well as other African wildlife with zebras being a personal favorite.