This Mandela Day, I’m honoured to be working on something incredibly close to my heart. I’ve teamed up with the NSPCA to create a special collection of original watercolour paintings — each one inspired by the true stories of animals they’ve rescued across South Africa.
These are stories that stayed with me.
Stories of cruelty, yes — but also of survival, strength, and second chances.
From lion cubs saved from brutal breeding farms, to vultures stolen from the wild and nursed back to health… each artwork in this series tells the story of an animal that should never have suffered, but who found hope through the NSPCA’s tireless work.
The full collection will launch ahead of Mandela Day 2025 and will be available through the NSPCA’s online shop. Proceeds from the sales will go directly to funding rescue operations, legal action, and ongoing efforts to fight cruelty and protect the most vulnerable.
This project means the world to me.
As an artist, I often turn to animals as subjects — but this time, it’s more than just capturing them on paper. It’s about giving their stories a voice, and using art to make a difference.
I’ll be sharing more in the lead-up to Mandela Day: behind-the-scenes looks at the painting process, the stories behind each piece, and how you can help support this cause.
Thank you for following along, and for standing with me (and the animals) in honouring Madiba’s legacy — with compassion, with creativity, and with heart.
With love,
Mareli
