Escape to a creative space in this calm, stylish getaway built where generations of artists have lived and worked. The open plan living and working area opens onto stoeps around two sides of the house. The bedroom welcomes the morning sun with views into trees and boulders where resident bush squirrels chatter. Nestled into a small ridge of indigenous lowveld trees with an irrigation canal flowing peacefully along the side, the house looks out onto a magical four-hectare garden of delights.
The space
The bedroom has a queen bed with ample storage space. Two large windows open onto views of the back garden. The bedding is pure cotton linen, a feather duvet in winter and a light cotton quilt for summer. The mosquito net keeps bugs off you and looks good! The bathroom leads off the bedroom.
The generous windows are ideal for bird and bush squirrel watching. Relax and watch kingfishers, paradise flycatchers and purple crested turacos in the branches. As the sun sets, you may be lucky to spot our resident bushbabies. At nighttime, the silence is occasionally broken by the calls of nightjars, wood owls and white-faced owls.
The living area has a four-seater table, a work desk, two comfy occasional chairs, a couch, a wood-burning fireplace (free firewood provided), good books to read and puzzles to while away the time.
The well-equipped kitchen has a gas stove and electric oven, induction cooker plate, fridge/freezer, toaster and kettle. A wide variety of quality cooking pots, utensils and crockery are available. We take food prep seriously!
The front stoep has a four-seater table, ideal for lazing away the day with a book or binoculars to watch birds.
The well-equipped kitchen has a gas stove and electric oven, induction cooker plate, fridge/freezer, toaster and kettle. A wide variety of quality cooking pots, utensils and crockery are available. We take food prep seriously!
The front stoep has a four-seater table, ideal for lazing away the day, sketching or with a book and binoculars to watch birds.
All the rooms have artwork by artists we collaborate with at The Artists' Press or who have lived and worked here. Three generations of artists have lived and worked on the property. Judith Mason lived and had her studio here for fifteen years. Simon Attwood (Judith's grandson) has had his studio here, and Tamar Mason's studio is here too.
You are welcome to visit The Artists' Press (to the left of the gate), where we collaborate with artists and hand-print limited edition prints.
Everything on the property, from the food we grow to how we live, work and generate electricity, is based on being environmentally sustainable. We are completely off-grid.
- Fast, stable wifi
- dedicated worktable with a good chair
- stable electricity 24/7
Guest access
Guests can explore the four-hectare mostly indigenous sub-tropical food forest garden and have shared access to the secluded eco swimming pool (being eco, there are tadpoles in the pool, depending on the season).
We established The Artists' Press in Johannesburg in 1991 and moved to the Lowveld in 2002. Mark Attwood is a master printer and has been printing since 1982. We print limited edition hand-printed prints (mostly lithographs) and collaborate with some of Southern Africa's leading artists. Guests are welcome to pop into the studio to see what we do. If an artist is in residence, you will get to meet them too.
In addition to the Artists' House and studio, there is our house, the Farmhouse, our Stone Cottage and our daughter's apartment on the property. Please be respectful of each of the residential buildings' privacy and need for quiet.
Other things to note
Our entire property is off-grid. Our electricity is provided by solar and our micro-hydro system. We have ample electricity, including enough to charge our fully electric vehicle. This means that we never have load-shedding. Our water is provided by our borehole, it is treated with UV and is perfectly safe to drink. The trees in the garden provide us with loads of firewood for fireplaces and braai areas. We have four bee hives, so we are off-grid for honey too! All food waste is fed to our hens in their chicken tractor.
Rock Art Tour
Our son, Simon Attwood, is an expert on rock art in the region and has assisted in recording rock art and furthering research in the area. He conducts tours of local rock art sites. Please contact us in advance to check availability and rates. Guests are to provide their own transport.
Local Indigenous Plant Tour
We are situated in a hot spot for plant endemism. Simon is a member of the local Plant Specialist Group and has found four new species of undescribed plants. He provides plant tours to view these local treasures. Please contact us in advance to check availability and rates. Guests are to provide their own transport.
We receive no municipal services; our trash is taken to a registered dump site by a private company. We ask you to help us by separating the recyclables from your trash. We have 24-hour security provided by a company that patrols the valley.
No wheelchair access.
No pets (including dogs).
No children under the age of 10 years old
Access to the house is via stairs.
Not suitable for infirm elderly people or partially sighted people. Please look at the photos to have a better understanding.
