Dieter Berner was born of German stock in 1939 in Namibia. After WWll his parents moved to South Africa where he grew up and completed school in Germiston. While he was in high school he discovered that he had a more than average drawing talent, and started to take oil painting classes. During his extra-mural studies he enrolled as a student of Otto Klar, who taught him the basics of painting with oil. Dieter did not paint much during his studies and gave up painting altogether when he became a pastor in the NG Kerk. After his retirement he decided to revive his painting talent, and started painting full time under the tutorship of Jancke Combrinck. Dieter paints exclusively in oil, and landscapes are his passion and forte. He is known for his colourful South African scenes. He says: "For me the success of any painting hinges on good tonal values and colour." This is reflected in his work. Dieter lives in the south of Johannesburg and is married to Antonette. He has three married children and seven grandchildren.