2016 – Remembering Jill Adams

On 28 July 2016, Kimberley lost one of the people who did most to record and celebrate the natural heritage of the Northern Cape when Jill Adams passed away in Somerset West at the age of 84.

Born in Durban in 1932, Jill Adams spent most of her life in Kimberley, where she became one of South Africa's most respected botanical and wildlife illustrators. From 1974 to 1983, she worked in the Art Department of the McGregor Museum, collaborating closely with the museum's Director, the distinguished biologist and ornithologist Dr Richard Liversidge. Their partnership produced some of the Northern Cape's finest natural history publications.

Her detailed botanical illustrations appeared in Flowering Plants of the Northern Cape (1976), while her beautiful bird paintings illustrated Dr Liversidge's The Birds Around Us (1990). Combining scientific accuracy with exceptional artistic skill, her work helped readers identify and appreciate the rich biodiversity of the Northern Cape. 

Beyond her published illustrations, Jill Adams designed museum displays, tourism material and commemorative Freedom of the City scrolls. Many of her original artworks were donated to the McGregor Museum, where they continue to support research, exhibitions and education.

Jill Adams' work continues to be enjoyed across Kimberley. Visitors to the McGregor Museum can often purchase prints of her illustrations in the museum shop. We are proud to have eight of her bird prints displayed throughout the guest rooms at Solomon Edwardian Guest House, where they serve as a small tribute to an artist whose work helped capture the beauty of the Northern Cape.

Did You Know?

Jill Adams' illustrations are admired not only for their beauty but also for their scientific accuracy, making them valuable resources for botanists, ornithologists and natural historians alike.