Shani Rhys James MBE RCA b.1953
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. In the past few years 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. She received the Glyndwr Award in 2007, by MOMA, for her contribution to Welsh art.
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
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 the 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