About

Brennan Seward (b. 1983) is an artist from post-independence Zimbabwe. His work is inspired by natural history and the great naturalist illustrators of a bygone era (15th-19th century). At 17 he sold his first drawing at Christie’s in London.  Fom there, he continued his training, learning from masters in watercolor and ink at the Sichuan Institute of Fine Art in Chongqing, China. His work hangs in a number of private and public collections around the world, including First Rand Group. He has held exhibitions in cities across the USA, the UK, China, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

Brennan borrows inspiration from Japanese woodcuts and Chinese inks as well as from master illustrators like Durer, Audubon and Kuhnert. His high contrast ink illustrations incorporate pointillism, stippling, and negative space in which the white of the paper becomes as important as the layering of ink itself. He draws on the precision draughtsmanship of the woodcuts and etchings of his predecessors, including in his large-scale work. The impressive size of Brennan’s pen and ink and his watercolors create a unique visual experience that is at once intimate and expansive. It begs the viewer to look closer and contemplate our relationship with the ever-diminishing natural world. 

Whilst he began his career painting wildlife as a teenager in the Africa bushveld, his work has evolved into depicting the world through flora, fauna, landscapes, and sometimes people. Evident in his artwork is his close study and knowledge of wildlife and his fascination with human culture. The human-animal relationship is a consistent theme in his thought process as he strives to create elaborate works that reflect what the future holds for our wild places and the creatures within them.

He travels between his home in northern California and Africa, leading safaris and taking research expeditions for his artwork.

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

Christie’s, South Kensington, London, Art for Survival-  2002, 2004, 2007.
Tryon Gallery, London, Art for Survival-  2003, 2005.
Plantation Wildlife Arts Festival, Thomasville, Georgia, USA - 2004, 2015, 2016, 2018.
Sichuan Institute of Fine Art - Chongqing, China 2007.
Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa, Shift- 2011.

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

Thomasville University, Georgia, U.S.A, 2003.
Johannesburg Zoo, Johannesburg, South Africa, Travels through Southern Africa-2005.
Johannesburg and Soweto in Ink, collection acquired by The First Rand Group- 2010.
Hellenic College Harare, Zimbabwe, Travels through North, East, and Southern Africa-2012.
Harare, Zimbabwe, Travels through India-2013.

Patrick Mavros, Fulham, London, A Black and White Safari through East Africa-2014.