For many years she worked predominantly in oil on canvas and in 2006 began to explore the more ethereal medium of watercolour and ink on paper and wood. Raaff’s fascination lies with the people and architecture of the South African city and neighbourhoods. She views these figures and spaces from unusual perspectives and by doing this captures a pattern that reveals visual and social elements unique to this country. Her work is an urban inquiry into the essence of certain spatial conditions, both abstract and specific. By drawing with the use of shape, her compositions are abundant with clarity, and are innately architectural. Figures are painted using few brushstrokes in an attempt to reveal key characteristics and body language through the gesture of a mark. Gabrielle works between her studio at home in Lakeside and her studio in Observatory.