Diane Hornby

Diane Hornby at work in her sunroom studio, painting a portrait of her daughter playing the harp

Diane at work on a commission of her daughter playing the harp.

About the Artist

Born in Florida, Roodepoort, South Africa, Diane studied art at the Art, Ballet and Music School in Johannesburg.

She worked for several years as a finished artist in advertising before joining Artists Under the Sun, where she sold her paintings and took on private commissions. After some time away from the easel, she is now back by popular demand, working in pencil, pastel, acrylic, and oils.

Her great love is animals, birds, and portraits — and her work hangs in many influential homes and offices across South Africa.

Dog Portraits

Commissioned likenesses of beloved companions, worked from your own photographs.

Border Collie portrait with heterochromia — Border ColliePastel

Siberian Husky portrait — Siberian HuskyPastel

German Shepherd portrait — German ShepherdColoured Pencil

Yorkshire Terrier portrait with pink collar — Yorkshire TerrierPastel

Italian Greyhound on yellow blanket — Italian GreyhoundOil on Canvas

Two Jack Russell Terriers portrait — Jack Russell PairAcrylic on Canvas

Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy on round canvas — Ridgeback PuppyOil on Round Canvas

Cocker Spaniel portrait in progress — Cocker SpanielColoured Pencil

Pug cross puppy portrait in progress — Pug CrossColoured Pencil

Maltese terrier watercolour portrait — MalteseWatercolour

Coloured pencil portrait of Guy, a black Labrador — Guy, Black LabradorColoured Pencil

Pencil drawing of a Doberman and a Labrador, 1986 — Maya & Sherry, 1986Graphite

German Shepherd portrait in coloured pencil — German Shepherd StudyColoured Pencil

Wildlife

Studies from the bush and the garden — birds, big cats, and the quiet watchfulness of the kudu.

Large acrylic painting of four kudu antelope — Kudu FamilyAcrylic on Canvas

Leopard portrait on round canvas — LeopardOil on Round Canvas

Leopard cub looking up at a butterfly — Cub & ButterflyOil on Round Canvas

Lilac-breasted roller perched on a branch with an insect — Lilac-breasted RollerOil on Round Canvas

Kingfisher on a branch, round canvas — KingfisherOil on Round Canvas

Pastel painting of a zebra against a warm ochre background — ZebraPastel

Coloured pencil drawing of Sudan, the last male northern white rhino — Sudan, The Last White RhinoColoured Pencil

Pencil and pastel portrait of a peacock's head — My Friend, The PeacockColoured Pencil

Coloured pencil drawing of a spotted eagle owl — Spotted Eagle OwlColoured Pencil

Coloured pencil drawing of a kingfisher — Kingfisher StudyColoured Pencil

Watercolour painting of a Cape Robin — Cape RobinWatercolour

Kudu drinking at a waterhole with reflections — Kudu at the WaterholeOil on Canvas

Painting of a yellow-throated longclaw perched on a branch — Yellow-throated LongclawWatercolour

Realistic painting of a zebra against a warm ochre background — Zebra, Morning LightOil on Canvas

Two kudu bulls sparring at dusk — Sparring KuduOil on Canvas

Landscapes & Cityscapes

From the olive groves of Gethsemane to a sunlit Bo-Kaap morning, places held in pigment.

Aloe plants flowering in the veld — Aloes in BloomWatercolour

View through an arch of Bo-Kaap pastel houses — Bo-Kaap, Cape TownAcrylic on Canvas

Ancient olive tree in the Garden of Gethsemane — The Garden of GethsemaneAcrylic on Canvas

Watercolour street scene with bare tree and ginger cat — Quiet StreetWatercolour

Oil painting of the South African bushveld with distant mountains — South African BushveldOil on Canvas

Vertical oil painting of the South African bushveld with cumulus clouds — Bushveld SkyOil on Canvas

Oil painting of a quiet river lined with willow trees — River WillowsOil on Canvas

Watercolour and ink scene of a donkey cart with figures — The Donkey CartWatercolour & Ink

Golden wetland at dusk with a lone figure — Wetland at DuskOil on Canvas

Colourful veld in bloom with wildflowers and a cottage — Veld in BloomOil on Canvas

Whitewashed fishermen's cottages near the shore — Fishermen's CottagesOil on Canvas

Soft seascape of waves breaking along the shore — The ShoreOil on Canvas

Still Life & Florals

Found objects, slow afternoons, a single bloom held in studio light.

Still life of pomegranates with a Five Roses tin — Pomegranates & Five RosesOil on Canvas

Acrylic still life of a teacup of rooibos with a biscuit — A Cup of RooibosAcrylic on Canvas

Pink rose on round canvas — Pink Rose StudyOil on Round Canvas

Oil painting of mixed pink, yellow and white roses — Roses in BloomOil on Canvas

Oil painting of pink and cream roses — Pink RosesOil on Canvas

Oil painting of yellow and cream roses — Yellow RosesOil on Canvas

Oil painting of white daisies in a copper pot — Daisies in a Copper PotOil on Canvas

Oil painting of daisies in a blue and white bowl — Daisies in a Blue BowlOil on Canvas

Country kitchen still life with jugs, bread and pumpkin — Country KitchenOil on Canvas

Learn With Diane

Art Classes

Hands-on tuition in drawing and painting — for children discovering their first pencil, teens building a portfolio, and adults returning to a love long set aside. Individual or small group sessions, with mediums chosen to suit each student.

Kids

Ages 6 – 12

Playful, encouraging classes that introduce drawing fundamentals, colour, and observation. Each child is given space to find their own creative voice.

Individual lesson1-on-1
Small groupUp to 4

Teens

Ages 13 – 17

For young artists ready to deepen their technique — life drawing, animal studies, portraiture, and portfolio development for school art or further study.

Individual lesson1-on-1
Small groupUp to 4

Adults

All Levels

Whether you are picking up a pencil for the first time or returning after years away, lessons are paced to your goals — from gentle weekend painting to focused commission-quality work.

Individual lesson1-on-1
Small groupUp to 6

PencilColoured PencilPastelWatercolourAcrylicOil

Enquire About Classes

Commission a Painting

Portraits, landscapes, and still life — created from your own photographs or chosen reference. Available in pastel, oil, acrylic, watercolour, and pencil, on paper or stretched canvas.

Enquire