About Us

About Driftwood Studios

Driftwood Studios is an art studio, pottery and gallery with accommodation for art residencies as well as those on holiday or business. A pristine natural environment overlooking the coastal dune forest, it is just a short peaceful walk to the sea, within the residential complex of Rainbow Valley. Wild bushbuck, vervet monkeys and many species of birds can be spotted in the garden and surrounding areas.

The beach has beautiful pebbles, dramatic sand dunes, and of course a variety of driftwood. Marine life is abundant and the water attracts swimmers, divers and surfers. It is by the finish of the 5-day coastal Strandloper Trail. There are a range of other sandy and rocky beaches, game parks and outdoor activity centres nearby. A Saturday park run is on the next door rose farm and there are cycle and running routes in the area.

The self-catering thatched Driftwood Treehouse is eclectic, artsy, and sleeps up to 3 adults and a child. If an extra bedroom is required book the adjacent en-suite family room with tea tray in Driftwood House, which has its own entrance, and sleeps 2 adults and 2 children. Artists in the residency programme can stay in Driftwood House or the Treehouse and self-cater or have meals provided.

There are a range of local facilities 4km away at Crossways Village Centre, including a Spar supermarket, butchery, Drs, pharmacy, a range of eateries, fuel stop etc. The city of East London is approximately 10km with an excellent museum, art galleries, cinema and shopping malls. East London domestic airport is 23km.s.

About your host

Claire, owner and art facilitator at Driftwood Studios, developed the facility first as a family home with her late husband, renowned sculptor George Kockott. They then renovated two outbuildings and built an art studio before hosting other artists and guests from 2007.

Claire has been active in the art and development spheres in the area for the last 26 years, since arriving in South Africa from the UK to support rural water and sanitation projects. Claire particularly enjoys pottery and watercolour painting. Artists in residence can draw on her network of local art contacts and community groups. Together an enriching and memorable residency experience can be designed to the benefit of both local people and artists in residence.

Claire’s work includes funding proposal writing and project managing corporate commissions for artists, notably for The Keiskamma Art Project artwork “Stories of a Car’. Panels of tapestries illustrate the history of MBSA in East London, are displayed on a new Mercedes Benz SA C-Class in the factory’s visitors centre.

Environmental protection and healthy foods are also a passion. She is a founder member of Green Living East London, and recently completed a research project on ‘edible weeds’ for the National Heritage Council.