Born on 23 November 1963 in Pietersburg, Portchie grew up in Tweeling in the Orange Free State as the son of a vegetable farmer and shop owner.  He matriculates at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch and later gets his BCom degree at the University of Stellenbosch. In 1991 he started painting as a hobby and later starts home-exhibitions. 

In 1994 he does a solo exhibition with 100 works and sells everything in one evening.  Here he decides to make art his full time career.  In 1995, he moves to Stellenbosch where he starts a studio and gradually become known to the art galleries.  To date he has had 57 solo exhibitions and 39 shared exhibitions in South Africa and abroad. His works are owned by private as well as company collections.

Portchie ascribes the success of his works to their unique character.  “My work is a mixture of naïve impressionism and expressionism.  I work with the concept of joy and joy can be best described by colour – my works are very colourful” says the artist.  “I like painting people doing ordinary things like riding  bike or reading.  There are no wrongs and rights in art – the secret is in the originality.