---

Shani Rhys James is arguably the most exciting and successful Welsh painter of her generation. Her considerable reputation, both in Wales and beyond, continues to grow apace. She has exhibited with Martin Tinney Gallery since 1993 and subsequently her work has appeared in exhibitions throughout Britain and mainland Europe. William Packer, the distinguished art critic, has spoken of her as a painter of remarkable power, whose paintings are as convincing as anything currently being produced in Britain.

She has been feted with prizes and honours: from the UK's most prestigious and valuable prize for painting, the Jerwood Prize in 2003, to the Gold Medal for Fine Art in the 1992 Royal National Eisteddfod; from the '2003 Welsh Woman in Culture Award' to being awarded an MBE in 2006. 

Her body of collectors, both private and public, continues to expand both in the UK, but especially abroad, with sales to important private collections in the USA, Belgium, France, Germany, New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong.

Prizes & Awards

2017                 Honorary Fellowship, Glyndwr University 

2008                 Honorary Fellowship, Hereford College of Art

2007                 Honorary Fellowship, University of Wales Institute Cardiff

2007                 Glyndwr Award for an Outstanding Contribution to Arts in Wales

2006                 Creative Wales Award, Arts Council of Wales

2006                 Awarded MBE

2003                 Winner of the Jerwood Painting Prize

2003                 Woman of Culture, Welsh Women of the Year Awards

1994                 Elected member of 56 Group Wales

1994                 Elected member of Royal Cambrian Academy

1994                 Prize Winner, BP National Portrait Award

1994                 Winner of the BBC Wales Visual Art Award 1994

1993                 First Prize, Hunting/Observer Art Prizes

1992/3              Welsh Arts Council Travel Award

1992                 Gold Medal for Fine Art, Royal National Eisteddfod

1991                 First Prize, Mostyn Open, Oriel Mostyn, Llandudno

1990                 Second Prize, Wales Open, Aberystwyth Arts Centre

1989                 First Prize, Wales Open, Aberystwyth Arts Centre

1985                 Welsh Arts Council Grant

Collections

National Museum Wales, Cardiff

Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow

Newport Museum and Art Gallery

Glynn Vivian Museum & Art Gallery, Swansea

Birmingham City Art Gallery

Wolverhampton Art Gallery

National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth

Usher Gallery, Lincoln

Museum of Modern Art Wales, Machynlleth

Contemporary Art Society of Wales

Arts Council of England

New Hall College, Cambridge

Jerwood Foundation

London Borough of Tower Hamlets

BBC Wales

Private Collections worldwide