World renowed South African artist Bettie Cilliers-Barnard has passed away of natural causes in her Pretoria home this morning, at the age of 95. Cilliers-Barnard was born on the 18th of November 1914 in Rusternburg. She received international recognition for her paintings which have been exhibited across the world including London, Paris, Monaco and Portugal.

Cilliers Barnard, who is also the mother of local actress Jana Cilliers, has among others received a chancellor's medal from the University of Pretoria. She is also one of the founding members of the Pretoria Arts Association (PAA) and has served the association for more than 60 years.

Pieter van Heerdeen, Director of the PAA and a close friend of Cilliers-Barnard, describes her as a "grand dame". "For more than 40 years she attained to the hanging of all the exhibitions at our gallery here," he says.

Van Heerdeen says that even though he saw her death coming, it is still a painful experience. "It's always sad to miss a peer and a wonderful loyal friend. For a couple of months now we knew she was ill. But like I said it still is sad," he says.

Describing her work, van Heerdeen says her work will undoubtedly remain valuable. "Her work already reached quite high prices on the auctions and I am sure that anybody with a 'Bettie Cilliers-Barnard' should be very happy. And it is not about the monatary value of her work, but the fact that you have a Bettie Cilliers Barnard in you possesion," he says.