About Peter Pharoah
Contemporary African Artist Based in Wilderness, Garden Route, South AfricaPeter Pharoah Fine Art Invites You On A Journey of Art Discovery Through His African Inspired Artworks
Early Life & Artistic Foundations“I have a passion for Africa and its people.
The heat, dust and textures are my inspiration, and the beauty, strength and pride of the people make compelling subjects.
Their faces become a vehicle to portray the feeling of Africa. My wildlife, seascapes and abstracts are created with the same strength, colour and energy as the African tribes; all these subjects characterise the warmth and spirit of the African continent.”
PETER PHAROAH | SOUTH AFRICAN WILDERNESS ARTIST
Born in Johannesburg in 1969, Peter Pharoah showed exceptional artistic talent from a young age. He matriculated from Kearsney College in 1986, earning top honours including the Natal Schools Art Award and the Grahamstown Art Festival Award. He continued his studies at the Witwatersrand Technikon, specialising in art and graphic design. During this time, he won the Wilsenach Young Designer’s Award, setting the stage for a successful career in visual communication.
Peter began his professional journey at Young & Rubicam, an internationally recognised advertising agency, working as an art director and illustrator. By 1994, he transitioned into freelance illustration, mastering mediums such as airbrush, pastels, gouache and acrylics.
Becoming a Fine Artist in Wilderness
In 1998, Peter relocated to Wilderness in the Garden Route, dedicating himself fully to fine art. This move marked a turning point in his career, allowing him to explore the textures, colours and emotional depth of Africa through portraiture, wildlife and abstract work.
The Pharoah Gallery destroyed in horrific fire - The Original Lagoon Gallery (2001–2010) In March 2001, The Pharoah Art Gallery opened in a picturesque thatch cottage on the banks of the Wilderness Lagoon. It showcased Peter’s work alongside notable South African artists such as Maud Sumner, Irma Stern, Beatrix Bosch, Peter Diggery and Fiona Rowett.In 2010, a devastating fire destroyed the gallery, along with Peter’s entire collection of originals and prints, including works by Zondi, Irma Stern and Maud Sumner. The building was later demolished.
The Pharoah Gallery - Top Wilderness Art Attraction Rebuilding & New Beginnings
Pharoah Print Gallery at The Girls Restaurant Later in 2010, the Pharoah Print Gallery opened Upstairs at The Girls Restaurant, giving visitors access to Peter’s extensive range of prints. Today, The Girls Restaurant is located in Palm Gardens Square, directly opposite the Anew Wilderness Resort Hotel, making it a central and easily accessible landmark for art lovers exploring Wilderness.
The Rebirth of the Pharoah Gallery (2011–Present) In January 2011, a new space became available in the Wilderness village, allowing the gallery to rise again. The Pharoah Gallery is now located next door to the Blue Olive Restaurant in the Wilderness Centre, continuing its legacy as a must‑visit Garden Route art destination.
Signature Exhibition: A Journey Into Africa Peter’s first solo exhibition, A Journey into Africa, held at Trent Read’s Knysna Fine Art Gallery in 1999, featured powerful portrait studies of tribal Africa. His bold strokes and vibrant colour captured both the harshness and elegance of the continent, creating an emotional resonance that defined his artistic voice.
His work has been described as “a stunning evocation of tribal people, imbued with the heat and dust of Africa.”
Global Collections & RepresentationHis international reach continues to grow as collectors seek out his distinctive African aesthetic.
Peter’s paintings appear in corporate and private collections across:
Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, Czech Republic, Croatia, Australia, Canada, Britain, South Africa
and the United States where he is represented by ZUVA Gallery in Arizona
Passions Beyond the Canvas
When not painting, Peter is a qualified private pilot and passionate adventurer. He often escapes into the African bush in search of inspiration and those elusive thermals or enjoys an evening flight along the coast of Wilderness in his Aériane Swift E-Lite glider/sailplane. As much as he loves the freedom of flight, he has also embraced kitesurfing, enjoying the wild ride of a southeaster across the ocean after a long day in the studio.
In 2008, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by obtaining his private pilot’s licence, allowing him to explore remote landscapes from the air in search of reference and creative spark.
Giving Back: Conservation Through Art
Peter is an official Art Ambassador for Helping Rhinos, contributing artworks for auction at their global annual events. His work has helped raise thousands of pounds toward anti‑poaching initiatives.
Peter Pharoah Invites You On A Journey of Art Discovery Through His African Inspired Artworks on display at The Pharoah Fine Art Gallery in Wilderness, next door to Blue Olive Restaurant.Meet this extraordinary Contemporary African Artist Based in Wilderness, Garden Route, South Africa
