Ewuraba - Professional African Women with Class and Style

Virginia Xaba was born on the 28th January 1975, in Winterton. Virginia attended the School in Winterton for 2 years, then MountainView School for 3 years, then onto Kimjwayili School for 2 years, and finally onto Meadow Sweet School for 3 years. Virginia has 5 children, and is not married. 

Virginia lived on the neighbouring farm of Mr and Mrs Lemmer. Virginia started painting at Ardmore Studio in 1992. Virginia had heard about Ardmore through Fee Halsted-Berning, when Fee met Virginia on the road, coming from School, and Fee had then offered to show her the Studio, and it’s art. Bonnie Ntshalintshali and Sindi Ntshalintshali  started teaching Virginia how to sculpt and how to paint.  Virginia left sculpting to paint.

Bonnie Ntshalintshali was born on Ardmore Farm in the Winterton district of KwaZulu Natal in 1967. In 1985, she apprenticed Fèe Halsted-Berning (founder Ardmore Ceramics Studio) of  as a studio assistant. While learning basic ceramic techniques, Ntshalintshali's natural ability in both sculpture and painting was quickly recognized and she was encouraged by Halsted-Berning to pursuer her own work.

In 1988, Ntshalintshali received the Corobrik National Ceramic Award. In 1990, she won the Standard Bank Young Artist Award jointly with Halsted Berning. That same year, 1990, she spent a term at the University of Natal , Pietermaritzburg, studying under Juliet Armstrong and Ian Calder. In 1991, the Standard Bank commissioned a series of original prints from its award winning artists. Using her own sculpture as inspiration, Bonnie produced a series o f original silk-screens which were shown that year at the Print festival in Grahamstown.

Ottilia Nxumalo was born on the 08th April 1962, in Ladysmith. Ottilia did her Primary School education at Peacetown, in Ladysmith, where she achieved her Standard 5. Ottilia  is married, and has 4 children.  She never worked before starting at Ardmore Ceramics Studio.

I heard about Ardmore from my aunt, Agnes Ntshalintshali, Paulina’s mother. “I came to ask Fee Halsted-Berning and she gave me a chance to try painting”. Ottilia’s favourite animal is the Zebra and the Giraffe.  Her favourite items to paint are Dishes and Bowls.  Her favourite colours are Chatreuse, pinks and oranges.

“I like my work, and wish to see it grow, because there is no other job I wish to do, and wish to see Ardmore grow up more, then what it is because of what I am, is because of Ardmore”.