From District Mail 11 July 08

Len touched the lives
of young artists

Len Thomas, Kleinmond businessman, artist and local philanthropist (and former mayor) died on July 5 after a brief illness.

Born in Johannesburg in 1936, Len spent his early years building a career in the photographic industry while simultaneously starting a family with his wife, Hazel.
They had a daughter, Pamela, and a son, Gary.
Len soon found himself posted to Durban where he lived for eight years.

During that time he pursued his love o fpainting through an involvement in local art groups. He also took part in a number of group exhibitions. Listening to his heart, he walked away from corporate life in 1976 and moved to Somerset West where he started the Len Thomas School of Art based at Southey’s Vines.

His six-year stay in Somerset West was active and productive as he not only taught many of his students the finer points of oil and watercolour painting, but also took part in numerous group and one-man exhibitions. He was also active in the Somerset West Art Group, which he chaired for a number of years.

Feeling that he wanted to re-focus his energy on his own painting, he closed his art school in the early ‘80s and moved to Kleinmond.
He served as a councillor on the then Kleinmond Town Council and subsequently became mayor for four years during which time he worked relentlessly to improve the lot of the local population and improve the financial position of the town.
Painting continued to be his primary passion in life, but his entrepreneurial spirit soon came to the fore and he opened Zellen Art Products, a family business which has grown into a mature manufacturer of artist paints and associated products.

Len enjoyed exploring the world of art, cooking, and classical guitar in his spare time.