Be as a Fool (2010) Painting by Veryan Edwards

Résumé
Veryan Edwards has been living in Botswana since January 1980 and has had a studio in Gaborone since 1985. She was born in Hongkong in 1949 and spent her childhood travelling between China and the United Kingdom. Both her parents were British and on their retirement, the family lived in England for four and a half years when Veryan and her parents moved to South Africa. Veryan attended Rhodes University in Grahamstown, majoring in painting and History of Art. She went on to start a Master’s Degree in Fine Art at the University that was later completed while she was working as an art teacher in Johannesburg.

At first, Veryan worked with a friend at the St Ansgar’s Mission, Johannesburg, running a small art studio for children from Kagiso, a suburb of Soweto and producing and teaching pottery. She then worked for the African Music and Drama Association (AMDA) under Khabe Mngoma at Dorkay House. As Head of Art at AMDA, Veryan conducted classes for artists at Dorkay House and in Orlando West, Soweto and in Lenasia. She was later co-Director of AMDA and finally Director of AMDA for a couple of years. She then went to work as an art teacher at Redhill School, finally teaching all ages from kindergarten to Matriculation. In 1980, Veryan and her husband moved to the village of Kanye in Botswana and she concentrated on her studio work and a degree in Philosophy and Logic through the University of South Africa..

In March 1989, Veryan initiated the introduction of an international workshop to Botswana based on the model of the Triangle International Artists’ Workshop in New York, USA. Veryan produced the fundraising documents, set up contacts and gained the official support of the Botswana National Museum for the project, which has, however, remained independent of Government. A committee was set up through the Museum and a Trust was established so that a bank account could be opened. The first workshop took place in November 1989 in Kanye with artists from Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zaire, the United States and the United Kingdom. As coordinator and Chairperson, Veryan organised the funding, travel, venue, accommodation, materials and equipment, booked the final exhibition and transport of works. She continued to do this for all the subsequent workshops through to 1996 and the 2001 workshop, even if she did not take part personally.

In 1995, after an inspiring visit to Zambia, Veryan initiated the idea of starting a Visual Art Centre in Gaborone and led the search for a venue. The only place available that would not require funding in the millions was a unused and decayed old house and tiny ancient battle field, which is a National monument from the Boer War. The Thapong Visual Art Centre has been established there since 1999, starting with a portacabin and tents while the Old House was renovated. Veryan was the Director of the Visual Art Centre and Chairperson of the Trust from 1999 to January, 2003. ...

• Nationality: BOTSWANA
• Date of birth : unknown date
• Artistic domains:
• Groups: Contemporary Botswanan Artists