Paintings by five South African artists will be used as massive billboards at 50 locations around South Africa in the outdoor marketing campaign of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003.

The paintings depict typical South African scenes with an added twist to welcome teams from the 14 competing nations.

The artists – Godfrey Ndaba, Dumisani Sibisi, James Durno, Basil Baqwa and Vusi Khumalo – attended a media conference in Johannesburg today when their work was unveiled.

Durno's "Welcome The World" painting will feature on a massive 20x20 metre billboard at John Vorster Square in the City of Johannesburg.

When it came to doing the outdoor advertising for the ICC Cricket World Cup between 8 February-23 March 2003, CWC marketing director Nomsa Chabeli and advertising agency TBWA/ Hunt Lascaris decided this should be no ordinary campaign. It needed to welcome the 13 visiting teams with a local flavour, as well being true to one of CWC's key objectives – to empower South Africans from all walks of life.

Each billboard shows a different country being welcomed "South African style" in keeping with the multi-media advertising theme of "It's Time to….."

Instead of simply setting up and photographing images, local artists were commissioned to give their interpretation of the ideas.

"The result is a stunning collection of South African artworks which will be photographed and placed at strategic outdoor sites around the country," said Ms Chabeli.

IT'S TIME TO WELCOME AUSTRALIA A pastel work by Godfrey Ndaba shows an African woman with her young child. Instead of carrying her child in a blanket on her back, she has placed the child in the blanket on her front, forming a kangaroo-like pouch.

IT'S TIME TO WELCOME ENGLAND Dumisani Sibisi's beautiful township scene shows a minibus taxi with a difference: an addition to the roof makes it a "local style" double-decker London bus. The newspaper work in the background is all cricket related.

IT'S TIME TO WELCOME CANADA This piece, interpreted by Johannesburg artist James Durno, shows an entourage of Basotho men on horseback, wearing the traditional "Modianyeho" hat. They are escorting a man, in the form of a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman. The "Mounties" are also well known for their horses and distinguishable hats.

IT'S TIME TO WELCOME KENYA Basil Baqwa's graphic pastel work shows a row of men in a line, all with one foot off the ground, emulating the gracious Masai warriors of Kenya. They hold their cricket bats as the Masai hold their spears.

IT'S TIME TO WELOME INDIA Eastern Cape-based Vusi Khumalo interpreted this idea: a local Putco bus doesn't just carry passengers inside but, as public transport often does in India, carries several passengers and their luggage on the roof.

IT'S TIME TO WELCOME HOLLAND Vusi Khumalo was also chosen for this piece. A beautiful landscape shows several traditional thatched huts, but they all sport the sails seen on windmills across Holland.

IT'S TIME TO WELCOME THE WORLD James Durno was also commissioned to welcome the world. This piece will feature at John Vorster Square on a billboard measuring a significant 20mx20m. The work is a summation of all the other works of art. Durno has depicted many of the countries featured on the other billboards all placed collectively on a globe. The African continent stretches out beneath them.

The Artists:

BASIL BAQWA

Born: Soweto 1954

Studies: School at Jubalani

Profile: When he finished school he managed to get a job cleaning and making tea in an attorney's office in Johannesburg although he loved painting and sketching in his spare time.