Cyril Coetzee is a full-time artist who has exhibited his paintings internationally. Portraits in one form or another and a concern with the human figure are his principal preoccupation. His works are included in various public and private collections worldwide, including the Royal Ontario Museum, Johannesburg Art Gallery, the Standard Bank in London, the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and Nelson Mandela’s private collection. 

He has received a number of awards for his work, such as the South African NBS Inter-Art School Prize, the Helgaard Steyn Award and a Vita Art Award. His formal ‘sitters’ include well-known luminaries, such as Nelson Mandela, Graça Machel, Matthews Phosa, Colin Bundy, Anton Rupert, Conrad Strauss, Strive Masiyiwa and George Bizos.

From 2018 to 2020 Cyril was artist in residence at the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town.