ASPIREDESIGNANDHOME.COM 93 92 SUMMER 2026 Zebras, eland, massive tortoises and ostrich can frequently be seen roaming the Cape Point Nature Reserve to the south. A pair of 1950s Bruno Mathsson swivel chairs provide the perfect place to take in the view. Reed offers a bit of poetry to describe their dual residency. “Baskloof House is a place to which we can retreat from the harsh winters of the north. We return to Yorkshire in April in time for the arrival of the lambs and the unfurling of spring.” Both men have also lived in Italy, and their work is international — Reed’s interior design practice takes him all over the world, and Black is preparing for Art Basel Miami Beach, where he will be exhibiting a collection of his tapestries in December 2026. This summer, the Thorns Gallery in Yorkshire will be showing Black’s oil paintings depicting the exuberance of the South African eucalyptus trees that surround their home. Both Reed and Black are inspired by their natural surroundings. Reed shares, “South Africa has an extraordinary landscape, light and flora. Its historical buildings date from the 17th century onward and have their own particular mix of European influences and a rich seam of a practical and agricultural vernacular. Even the city houses somehow have the sense of a farmhouse.” Black expands on that, describing how the environment informs his art. “The incredible light in South Africa is a constant source of interest in my practice. For the past few years, I have been working with the most talented weavers, creating beautiful tapestries of my paintings.” Black’s three decades in the fashion industry inform his practice. He notes, “One element of the fashion industry that I miss is the collaboration with other artisans. My life as an artist has circled back to the beautiful art of the woven world, which is surely one of the oldest forms of artistic expression.” “South Africa has an extraordinary landscape, light and flora. Its historical buildings date from the 17th century onwards and have their own mix of European influences and a rich seam of a practical and agricultural vernacular. Even the city houses somehow have the sense of a farmhouse.” — JONATHAN REED