Father Claerhout spent more than 50 years ministering to the faithful primarily in the Free State.  Frans Claerhout was passionate about two things - God and his art. His fondness for paintings and sculpting objects around him on the various mission stations at which he served, lead to an international clique of Claerhout fans who flocked to his infrequent exhibitions.

He said that his faith and his painting are indistinguishable: "my belief inspires me,"  Claerhout graduated from a seminary in his native Belgium in 1944 and was posted to South Africa two years later where he served primarily in Bloemfontein, Thabanchu and his beloved Tweespruit mission.  He retired in Bloemfontein where he passed away on 4 July 2006.

His work is essentially natural, a sort of merging of post impressionism with post modernism and later works reflect more vivid colours. His sculptures are rare, in fact he did only 22.  His style is characterized by his habit of painting the people and animals with whom and which he came into daily contact.  Claerhout's donkey paintings are internationally renowned.