Event art, live art, live event art activation – however you may name it, gifting your guests with a customized keepsake connected to your brand has arrived to the party and it will be here to stay for a while! With so many different art forms and artist styles to choose from this new event performance provides inexhaustible options to elevate your occasion.
South Africa’s industry of live artists is growing, so below is a list, links and details on some of these artists.
But first…
What is a live event artist and how does it work?
In short, a live artist for events sets up at your event and creates a personalized piece of art (from illustrations to calligraphy) while your guests can witness the process and then take the piece home with them – shareable content, event entertainment and guest favour in one!
If you are looking to frame or gift an individual artwork from a photograph or reference image, consider booking a commission artist. For a list of info on some of the talented artists in South Africa, have a look at the link below.
LIVE GUEST ILLUSTRATIONS
Sketches or paintings of your guests live at your event
Fashion Illustration Style
BY HANLI
Fashion & Live Event Illustrator
Services
Guest sketches at your event – portrait, half length and full length in colour or black & white.
Style & medium
Fashion Illustration in marker, pencil and fine liners.
Location
Cape Town, South Africa.
Available nationwide and internationally.
Site
artbyhanli.co.za
Instagram
@sketchbyhanli
Notes
known for elegant figures and luxury touches. Also available for fashion illustration art commissions.
Anri Erasmus Illustration
Luxury Fashion Illustrator
Services
Guest sketches at your event.
Style & medium
Fashion Illustration in marker, pencil and fine liners.
Location
Pretoria, South Africa.
Available nationwide.
Instagram
@anri_erasmus_illustration
Notes
Anri is a multidisciplinary artist providing online art workshops as well.
The V Narrative
fashion designer/illustrator
Services
Guest sketches at your event.
Style & medium
Fashion Illustration in marker.
Location
Durban, South Africa.
Site
thevnarrative.blogspot.com
Instagram
@thevnarrative_illustrations
Notes
Vuyelwa’s style is bold & colourful.
Lara Klawikowski
Itinerant fashion illustrator
Services
Guest sketches at your event.
Style & medium
Expressive fashion portraits in marker.
Location
Cape Town, South Africa.
Site
laraklawikowski.com
Instagram
@lara_klawikowski_illustration
Notes
Apart from creating her unique fashion portraits, Lara is also a talented fashion designer.
Fathima's Studio
Illustrator & Designer
Services
Guest sketches at your event.
Style & medium
Fashion Illustration in watercolour.
Location
Durban, South Africa.
Available nationwide and internationally.
Site
linktr.ee/fathimasstudio
Instagram
@fathimasstudio
Notes
Fathima is also a designer and calligrapher at events.
Watercolour
Danielle Jordaan Live Wedding Painting Studio
Live Wedding Painting & Watercolour Guest Portraits
Services
Guest paintings at your event.
Style & medium
Watercolour figures
Location
South Africa.
Available nationwide and internationally.
Site
daniellejordaan.com
Instagram
@daniellejordaanstudio
Notes
Danielle has a team of talented artist serving clients all over the world. Multiple artist makes her studio also perfect for larger events.
Vos & Ink
Portrait Artist
Services
Signature minimal guest portrait paintings of your guests at your event.
Style & medium
Watercolour minimalistic portraits
Location
South Africa.
Available nationwide and internationally.
Site
vosenink.co.za
Instagram
@vos.en.ink
Notes
Alisa, known as the original live artist of South Africa, also creates exquisite botanical art pieces.
Karen Bareuther
The Wedding Painter SA
Services
Live event artist. Pre-painted and live, different styles and sizes available (A6 Head and shoulders, full length stylized A5 or A6, and Full length detailed A5.
Style & medium
watercolor and/or markers
Location
Gauteng based, selected availability throughout SA
Site
liveweddingpaint.com
Instagram
@k_bareuther
Notes
Karen often works with an assistant which caters for more guests.
Palettes of Joy
Live Painting & Pre-painted Portraits
Services
Guest portraits at your event.
Style & medium
Minimalistic portraits in watercolour.
Location
South Africa
Instagram
@palettes.of.joy
Notes
The artist also offers pre-painted portraits for your event as well as gift portraits.
Brushed With Love
Live Wedding & Guest Portraits
Services
Guest portraits at your event.
Style & medium
Loose & artistic figure paintings in watercolour.
Location – South Africa
Site
bio.site/brushedwithlove
Instagram
@brushed_with._love
Notes
Stacey also creates beautiful watercolour commissions and personalized orders.
Wedding Painter SA
South African luxury illustrator
Services
Guest portraits, ceremony painting and Love Leaf Trees.
Style & medium
Watercolour & fine liner fashion illustrations.
Location – Johannesburg, South Africa. Available nationwide.
Site
weddingpainter.co.za
Instagram
@weddingpaintersa
Notes
“Jenna works independently, offers guest illustrations as her main service, and includes facial features in every portrait.”
Janike du Plessis
Artist & Live Wedding painter
Services
Guest portraits.
Style & medium
Watercolour & fine liner. Capturing likeness without facial features.
Location
South Africa
Instagram
@brainofjanike_art
Notes
Janike also creates commissions in pencil or watercolour.
Geverf
Live Wedding Portraits & Guest Portrait Painters
Services
Mini watercolour portraits.
Style & medium
Watercolour & fine liner.
Location
Cape Town, South Africa
Instagram
@ge.verf
Notes
Carli & Saskia also offer line drawing commissions.
Art by Sunel
Fine Artist
Services
Watercolour guest portraits.
Style & medium
Watercolour portraits.
Location
Gauteng, South Africa
Site
artbysunel.co.za
Instagram
@sunel_paintsweddings
Notes
Sunel also does canvas paintings at events and present art classes.
Vessels Art Studio
Father & Daughter Art Studio
Services
Detailed Watercolour Art.
Style & medium
Watercolour
Location
Lowveld, South Africa
Instagram
@vessels.studio
Notes
This father and daughter trio also does commissions and original art works.
Caricatures
Key Caricatures
Event Illustration & Caricatures
Services
Guest portraits at your event.
Style & medium
Caricature style portraits in watercolour.
Location
Cape Town, South Africa.
Available nationwide.
Site
keycaricatures.wordpress.com
Instagram
@keycaricatures
Notes
Ted creates guest portraits with precision and speed – perfect for larger events.
Martinus van Tee Illustration
Caricaturist
Services
Live Wedding and event caricatures
Style & medium
Caricature style portraits in ink.
Location
Cape Town, South Africa.
Available nationwide.
Site
https://martinusvantee.com
Instagram
@martinusvantee
Notes
Martinus also specializes in children’s book illustrations, animation and is also a voice over artist.
Besmitten Studio
funny & flattering caricatures
Services
Caricature sketches as live entertainments and gifts.
Style & medium
Caricature style portraits in markers.
Location
Centurion, South Africa.
Available nationwide.
Site
https://besmitten.co.za/
Instagram
@b3smitten
Notes
Karina is also a design and animation designer.
LIVE CALLIGRAPHY & ENGRAVING
Elegantly written or engraved customizations of products or packaging
Get Fonted
calligrapher & engraver
Services
Calligraphy & Engraving on products and packaging at your event.
Style & medium
Ink, Marker, Paint and Engraving to best suit your activation.
Location
Johannesburg, South Africa.
Site
www.getfonted.com
Instagram
@getfonted
Notes
Monique is an expert and will guide you to the best creative solution for your requirements.
Distilled Word Calligraphy
Calligrapher & Engraver
Services
Calligraphy classes, commissions, calligraphy/engraving/hot-foiling at live events.
Style & medium
Traditional pointed pen & broad edge calligraphy, Faux calligraphy with modern pens, Handwriting with fountain pens.
Location
Cape Town, South Africa. Available nationwide and internationally.
Site
bit.ly/m/distilledword
Instagram
@distilledword
Notes
Adeline practices and experiments with different calligraphy styles to offer the best fit for your requirements.
Leesette Turner
Letter Artist, Calligrapher, Coach
Services
Experience the Art of Live Calligraphy at Your Event: Guests’ names and custom requests beautifully written on demand, Large-scale calligraphy projected for all to enjoy/Inspiring quotes and personalized messages brought to life in real-time/Immersive experience set to music, enhancing the atmosphere.
Style & medium
Most lettering in contemporary and historical styles possible with a variety of tools using ink, paint, marker and more on on products, packaging and giveaways
Location
Cape Town, South Africa – happy to travel
Site
leesetteturner.com
Instagram
@leesetteturner
Notes
Choose Leesette to bring a blend of creativity, elegance, and unforgettable calligraphy to every moment. Let’s make your event unforgettable—one stroke at a time!
Signed Jerriska
Onsite Calligraphy & Engraving
Services
Calligraphy & Engraving on products and packaging at your event.
Style & medium
Ink, Marker, Paint and Engraving to best suit your activation.
Location
Durban, South Africa.
Instagram
@jerriska_ramdhaney
Notes
Jerriska is also a professional henna artist with these skills translating beautifully into her calligraphy & engraving work.
Fathima's Studio
Illustrator & Designer
Services
Brush Calligraphy at your event.
Style & medium
Brush Calligraphy and art in watercolour.
Location
Durban, South Africa.
Available nationwide and internationally.
Site
linktr.ee/fathimasstudio
Instagram
@fathimasstudio
Notes
Fathima is also a designer and illustrator.
Debbie D
freehand engraving artist
Services
Bespoke freehand engraving.
Style & medium
Engraving – without laser or stencils.
Location
Cape Town, South Africa.
Instagram
@engravebydebbied
Notes
Luxury brand activations, Live events and heirlooms.
WEDDING PAINTING
Showstopper art pieces created live at your wedding or event
Danielle Jordaan Live Wedding Painting Studio
Live Wedding Painting & Watercolour Guest Portraits
Services
Painting of your chosen moment at your wedding.
Style & medium
Acrylic on Canvas.
Location
South Africa.
Available nationwide and internationally.
Site
daniellejordaan.com
Instagram
@daniellejordaanstudio
Notes
Danielle has a team of talented artist serving clients all over the world.
Karen Bareuther
The Wedding Painter SA
Services
Live wedding painter.
Style & medium
Acrylic on Canvas.
Location
Gauteng based, selected availability throughout SA.
Site
liveweddingpaint.com
Instagram
@k_bareuther
Notes
Karen has years of experience within the industry.
Hilde Alet Malan
Artist
Services
Artistic activations at your event or wedding – interactive guest paintings to custom entertainment and on-product sketching.
Style & medium
white acrylic marker on black canvas.
Location
South Africa.
Site
hildealetmalan.co.za
Instagram
@hildealetmalanart
Notes
Hilde is known for her striking, large scale line art available for purchase or commission.
Key Caricatures
Event Illustration & Caricatures
Services
Sketch of a moment at your wedding.
Style & medium
Watercolour sketch style, quickly and effectively capturing the moment.
Location
Cape Town, South Africa.
Available nationwide.
Site
keycaricatures.wordpress.com
Instagram
@keycaricatures
Notes
Ted works efficiently and will be able to sketch your moment and your guests at your wedding.
Marisa Steynberg
Live Event Painter & Fine Artist
Services
Wedding, Equestrian Events and more.
Style & medium
Canvas Painting
Location – Gauteng, South Africa. Available nationwide.
Site
paintedvows.co.za
Instagram
@rs_painted_vows
Notes
Marisa offers various options to accommodate her clients’ budget.
Art by Sunel
Fine Artist
Services
Live canvas art paintings.
Style & medium
Acrylic paint on canvas.
Location
Gauteng, South Africa
Site
artbysunel.co.za
Instagram
@sunel_paintsweddings
Notes
Sunel also offer watercolour guest portraits and present art classes.
SOMETHING ELSE
The art fields that fall outside the typical, ready to delight your guests
Poetry for Strangers
writer and poetess
Services
I’m a live typewriter poet who specialises in on-the-spot poetry for any event – birthdays, weddings, markets etc. I make your celebration completely unique. I type poems on demand. Each within 10 minutes using embossed cotton paper on my vintage typewriter. I’m bilingual therefore poems are Afrikaans and/or English.
Style & medium
100% cotton paper – embossed & stamped. Vintage 1950s & 1970s typewriters. Black Ribbon Ink.
Location
In-person/live – Western Cape, mainly Overberg region – but open to travel. Online: National – I can courier poems to anywhere in South Africa.
Instagram
@blondiepoems
Notes
Huge lover of languages. Wordsmith. Published poem in a UK Youth Anthology of Poetry. Won the award for Inspiration at a Kamers Makers show – March 2024. Poetry bundle in the making. I’m a donation-based poetess that means you can pay whatever you’d like to for a custom poem of your own. The very first of my kind in South Africa.
Studio Pen
Multidisciplinary Studio
Services
Live painting, table scape art, artful hand fans, painted parasols, content creation and wedding stationery.
Style & medium
Peni is skilled at various mediums, adapting to your project and creative vision.
Location
Cape Town, South Africa. Available nation & worldwide.
Site
studiopen.art
Instagram
@studio__pen
Notes
“Telling brand stories through illustration, social storytelling and thoughtful design. From brand collaborations to bespoke event stationery, I craft visual worlds that bring brand stories to life.”
