Cecil Skotnes was a South African artist best known for his woodcuts and engravings. Skotnes was noted for seamlessly merging elements of Western art with elements of traditional African culture, history, and folklore.
His works often deal with South African history and he is especially known for telling the story of the Zulu King Shaka.

His contribution to South African art has been widely recognized by universities who have conferred honorary degrees on him (UCT, Wits, and Rhodes) and by the State President with the award of the Order of Ikhamanga in gold for service to the country and, in particular, for his contribution to the de-racialization of South African art. Cecil's work is in the collection of the South African National Gallery in Cape Town.