Dr. Bettie Cilliers-Barnard was born November 11, 1914, in Rustenburg, South Africa.
She was a graphic artist and painter of portraits, a legend in her own time. She studied at Pretoria Teachers Training College and later in Paris under graphic art instructor Jean Pons. Her first solo exhibition was in 1946 in Pretoria. During her life she worked and studied in Paris, Switzerland, USA and the U.K. and also took part in various exhibitions all over the world. Her artworks also include several tapestries commissioned by Universities and government offices.