Annemarie Kotzé was born in Cape Town, South Africa. She matriculated with distinction at Stellenberg High School and decided to make Stellenbosch her hometown for the next decade. Her deep-rooted love for nature was her main persuasion to study Zoology and Botany at the University of Stellenbosch, obtaining her M.Sc. degree (cum laude) in Zoology (Ecological Herpetology) in 2001.
Following her studies she took a year (2001 – 2002) to work in England and travel through Europe. On her return to SA, she worked as a freelance artist and illustrator creating brochures, posters and information booklets for various companies.
After getting married, she and her husband moved to a farm in the picturesque Ruiterbos area, at the foot of the Robinson Pass near Mossel Bay. Here they farm with olives, boer-goats and vegetables. From 2005 to 2007 Annemarie taught Mathematics and Biology at Point High School while in her free time creating oil paintings that were sold in the area.
Today Annemarie works as an Environmental Consultant from home, but mostly spends her time illustrating characters that turn to life in the stories she writes. She and her husband are the proud parents of their one-year-old daughter, Jana, who also turns out to be her mom’s greatest source of inspiration.
