Stephen Townley Bassett


Stephen was first introduced to San rock art at the age of 14 by his uncle ‘Ginger’ Townley Johnson (author of Major Rock Paintings of Southern Africa). Weekends were spent at his studio or looking for rock paintings in the Cederberg mountains. This interest has developed into a career, and he has spent the last ten years refining techniques for the accurate, full-colour documentation of this remarkable art form. He has held exhibitions both in South Africa and abroad.

Stephen is also actively involved in the conservation and management of rock art sites in southern Africa. His time is divided between painting, his research into natural pigments used by the San and the restoration of historical sites that have been vandalised.