Herman Jansen van Vuuren is a South African Surrealist Artist with a traditional approach to the usage of Art Materials.

He was born in Pretoria, South Africa in 1957 Raised in Zimbabwe (Then Rhodesia). He has successfully combined his African perspective with an Avant-Garde "Western" approach to art. Studied Fine Art at the University of South Africa and has lectured at the same university where his book "The Found Art of Paint Making" was the handbook used on the course. He has also lectured at Oxford Brooks University. He has also worked as an Aeronautical Engineer for an aircraft manufacturer for some years so he could fund his plans to establish an unique art establishment in the West Midlands.

Herman authored the book, "The Found Art of Paint Making" published in South Africa, many International Artists, Universities and Art Institutions currently use this handbook. Herman is currently working on a new expanded edition of this book, which will be available in the UK at the end of August 2004.

At his art school in South Africa and also now here in the UK (in Bicester) he has taught children including those with learning difficulties and adults, and has given workshops on paint making and all aspects of drawing and painting. His unconventional methods have shown great results for the students that he has trained. He has been living and working in the West Midlands in the UK for over five years. Besides having Art Exhibitions in most of the major cities in South Africa, he has had Art Exhibitions in London, Oxford, Birmingham and Cardiff. His works are in private and corporate collections worldwide.

He is currently running the Ravan Contemporary Art Institute in Wolverhampton, bringing together other contemporary artists and sharing his resources with the artists for the common good. His passion is teaching young children and adolescents to discover their hidden talents and to learn to express themselves in some form of artistic creativity. He is persuaded that the apprenticeship method used by the masters of old is still the best method to transfer skills for survival and ultimately for success. Herman is currently working out of his large studio in Wolverhampton but ultimately he would like to set up a permanent space where all people can be accommodated on a daily basis for artistic creative training.

Address: 1 Argyle Road
Wolverhampton
WV2 4NY
West Midlands, England
United Kingdom
Telephone No.: 01902-620727 (h)
Mobile No.: 07740423808
E-mail: ravanart@aol.com