Murray Ralfe

Murray Ralfe

View Richard King and Murray Ralfe: Wildest Dreams Exhibition Catalogue

Murray Ralfe grew up in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, where he had a special interest in natural history from an early age. His particular passion for wild birds resulted in much of his youth exploring the wilderness area of the country’s Eastern Cape province.

After his schooling Murray trained in art at both the Port Elizabeth Technikon and the Johannesburg Art Foundation. A brief stint in advertising was followed by a position as a display artist at the Port Elizabeth museum, an environment which enabled Murray to foster his interest in natural history.
In 1994 Murray left the museum to pursue a career in fine-art. He lived in South Africa’s world-famous Kruger National Park for 9 years, where he acquired a deep understanding of the anatomy and behaviour of his wildlife and botanical subjects, and which is evident in each of his thoughtfully planned and realistically executed compositions. It was also during this time in Kruger that Murray developed skills in digital photography, film and film editing, which he has now added to the media in his creative portfolio.
Apart from his very detailed natural history artworks done in pencils, oils, acrylics or watercolours, Murray’s work also covers a range of other subjects and more abstract styles. He has recently moved to Knysna, on the southern coast of South Africa.

Murray Ralfe