Samantha Zandile Ngwenya is a talented Bournemouth-based artist with a passion for shining a spotlight onto familiar, mundane and frankly “bog standard” subject matters.

With only primary-coloured oil paints (including Ivory Black and Titanium White) as her medium, she can manipulate them into almost “photo-like” realism through her meticulous attention to detail. Whether that’s a toilet seat or a brilliant white bathroom sink, her paintings draw your attention to the overlooked parts of your everyday. Reminding you to appreciate the little things.

“Reality is my religion; the canvas is my church.”

Born and raised in Bournemouth by her parents who emigrated from Zimbabwe, Samantha developed a non-stop work ethic that drives her artistic passion. She draws inspiration from the Renaissance work of Edward Hopper and Vilhelm Hammershoi, as well as contemporary artist George Shaw.

By exploring the unorthodox, Samantha aims to inspire conversation and evoke feelings that transport you back to a moment in your own life. With relatability and community at the heart of her practice, there is no need to shroud her story with artistic jargon.