Born in Laingsburg in 1967, Sannette’s childhood was a nomadic journey through the soul of South Africa. As the daughter of a police officer, she grew up amongst the changing landscapes of the former Cape Province, eventually matriculating in Carnarvon and beginning a professional career that spanned banking, bookkeeping, and even auctioneering.

However, beneath the spreadsheets and property deals, a creative fire was always simmering. For years, Sannette expressed her vision through fabric painting, but it was a mother's devotion that finally pushed her into the world of fine art. In 2006, her son MJ was selected to represent the South African President’s Development team for Martial Arts in the Netherlands. To fund his journey, Sannette picked up her brushes with a new, fierce purpose.

What began as a mission to see her son compete soon caught the eyes of the international art world. Today, her work hangs in private collections across the USA, Germany, Spain, and Australia.

The pinnacle of her career arrived in 2008, with a commission of profound historical weight: a massive 2.4m x 3.6m (Height x Width) panel for the Samora Machel Museum. A hauntingly modern exploration of Sub-Saharan funeral rites, the piece was constructed using a medium unlike any other—the actual wreckage from the 1986 aircraft crash that claimed the life of President Samora Machel. From the dust of the Karoo to the halls of national history, Sannette’s work continues to bridge the gap between raw emotion and historical legacy.