Errol Boyley

Errol Boyley | 1918–2007

Errol Boyley was a respected South African painter whose atmospheric landscapes helped establish him as a distinctive voice in twentieth-century South African art.

Born in Pietermaritzburg in 1918, Boyley was largely self-taught, apart from a period studying drawing at the Natal Technical College. After serving during the Second World War, he worked professionally as a musician while painting during the day. A move to Knysna proved important, where he was mentored by landscape artist W.G. Wiles.

Boyley worked primarily in oil and watercolour, becoming particularly known for his landscapes of the Karoo and Cape Winelands, as well as seascapes, still lifes, interiors and occasional wildlife subjects. His paintings are admired for their confident composition, restrained colour, painterly surfaces and strong sense of atmosphere.

His first solo exhibition was held at the Herbert Evans Gallery in Johannesburg in 1956, followed by numerous exhibitions throughout his career. He later established his own galleries in Ramsgate and Franschhoek.

Today, Boyley remains firmly established on the South African secondary art market, with hundreds of works recorded at auction and sustained collector interest.

The Art Collective is proud to offer a selection of original works by Errol Boyley.