Shani Rhys James
Encyclopedia
Shani Rhys James MBE is a Welsh painter based in Llangadfan
, Powys
. She has been described as "arguably one of the most exciting and successful painters of her generation" and "one of Wales’ most significant living artists". She was elected to the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art
in 1994. In the 2006 New Years Honours she was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for "services to art".
. She later moved to Mid-Wales to live and work, taking her young family with her.
Rhys James is known particularly for her melancholy self portraits. When she is not painting herself she generally paints other women, still lives, domestic scenes or "riotously spiky and rip-roaring" vases of flowers. Art critic Michael Glover
says "There's something mad, wild and thuggish about this work, such is its total lack of restraint. It seems to be gulping at colour... She lathers and slathers on the paint with a kind of unrestrained glee. No wonder the eyes of the model are always slightly bulbous with a kind of childish wonderment".
Rhys James has been elected to the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art and the 56 Group Wales.
In 2011 the artist and entertainer, Rolf Harris
, included Rhys James in a BBC TV series on 'great' Welsh artists. She was the only living artist included. Harris painted a self portrait in the style of Rhys James, using a small hand mirror and looking at his face 'as a landscape'.
Rhys James has exhibited across Europe
, also in the USA, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia. She is represented by the Martin Tinney Gallery, Cardiff.
Rhys James has bought a second home in Charente, France
(2010), where she spends a lot of time.
Llangadfan
Llangadfan is a small village in Powys, east central Wales, based in the community of Banwy. The village lies on the A458 between Foel and Llanerfyl, from Llanwddyn. Dyfnant Forest is located nearby...
, Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
. She has been described as "arguably one of the most exciting and successful painters of her generation" and "one of Wales’ most significant living artists". She was elected to the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art
Royal Cambrian Academy of Art
The Royal Cambrian Academy of Art is a centre of excellence for art in Wales. Its main gallery is located in Conwy and it has over a hundred members.thumb|right|240px|Plas Mawr, Conwy-Early history:...
in 1994. In the 2006 New Years Honours she was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for "services to art".
Education and career
In 1976 Rhys James obtained a degree in Fine Art at St Martin's School of Art, LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. She later moved to Mid-Wales to live and work, taking her young family with her.
Rhys James is known particularly for her melancholy self portraits. When she is not painting herself she generally paints other women, still lives, domestic scenes or "riotously spiky and rip-roaring" vases of flowers. Art critic Michael Glover
Michael Glover (author)
Michael Glover is an author, London-based poet, art critic, fiction writer and magazine editor who has contributed regularly to The Independent, The Times, The Financial Times, The New Statesman and The Economist....
says "There's something mad, wild and thuggish about this work, such is its total lack of restraint. It seems to be gulping at colour... She lathers and slathers on the paint with a kind of unrestrained glee. No wonder the eyes of the model are always slightly bulbous with a kind of childish wonderment".
Rhys James has been elected to the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art and the 56 Group Wales.
In 2011 the artist and entertainer, Rolf Harris
Rolf Harris
Rolf Harris, CBE, AM is an Australian musician, singer-songwriter, composer, painter and television personality.Born in Perth, Western Australia, Harris was a champion swimmer before studying art. He moved to England in 1952, where he started to appear on television programmes on which he drew the...
, included Rhys James in a BBC TV series on 'great' Welsh artists. She was the only living artist included. Harris painted a self portrait in the style of Rhys James, using a small hand mirror and looking at his face 'as a landscape'.
Rhys James has exhibited across Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, also in the USA, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia. She is represented by the Martin Tinney Gallery, Cardiff.
Solo exhibitions
Listed by BBC Wales Arts webpage unless otherwise stated.- 1992 - Beaux Arts, Bath
- 1993 - Blood Ties, Wrexham Library Arts Centre, touring exhibition
- 1994 - Glyn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea; Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham; Newport Museum and Art Gallery; Carmarthen Art Gallery
- 1995 - Martin Tinney Gallery, Cardiff
- 1996 - Re-Vision, Fettered Past, Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham
- 1997 - Facing the Self, Mostyn Art Gallery, Llandudno, also touring
- 2000 - The inner Room, Stephen Lacey Gallery, London
- 2003 - Significant Paintings, Museum of Modern Art Wales, Machynlleth
- 2003 - Recent Paintings, Martin Tinney Gallery, Cardiff
- 2004 - The Black Cot, Aberystwyth Arts Centre touring exhibition
- 2005 - Layers, Martin Tinney Gallery, Cardiff
- 2008 - Martin Tinney Gallery, Cardiff
- 2009 - Two Ateliers, Connaught Brown Gallery, London
- 2010 - Martin Tinney Gallery, Cardiff
- 2010 - Hillsboro Fine Art, Dublin
Prizes and awards
Listed by Martin Tinney Gallery unless otherwise stated.- 1989 First Prize, Wales Open, Aberystwyth Arts Centre
- 1990 Second Prize, Wales Open, Aberystwyth Arts Centre
- 1991 First Prize, Mostyn Open, Oriel Mostyn, Llandudno
- 1992 Gold Medal for Fine Art, Royal National EisteddfodNational Eisteddfod of WalesThe National Eisteddfod of Wales is the most important of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales.- Organisation :...
- 1993 First Prize, Hunting/Observer Art Prizes
- 1994 Elected member of 56 Group Wales
- 1994 Elected member of Royal Cambrian Academy
- 1994 Winner of the BBC Wales Visual Art Award 1994
- 1994 Second Prize, BP National Portrait Award
- 2003 Woman of Culture, Welsh Women of the Year Awards
- 2003 Winner of the Jerwood Painting Prize
- 2006 Creative Wales Award, Arts Council of Wales
- 2007 Honorary Fellowship, University of Wales Institute Cardiff
- 2007 Glyndwr Award for an Outstanding Contribution to Arts in Wales, presented by MOMA WalesMOMA, WalesMOMA or Museum of Modern Art adjacent to Y Tabernacl is located in Machynlleth, Powys, Mid Wales.The Tabernacle was converted in the mid-1980s from a Wesleyan chapel into a centre for the performing arts. Since then the Museum of Modern Art has grown up alongside it, with six exhibition spaces.The...
- 2008 Honorary Fellowship, Hereford College of Art
Personal life
Shani Rhys James is the daughter of a Welsh father and an Australian mother. and came to the UK as a child. She is married to artist Stephen West and has two children.Rhys James has bought a second home in Charente, France
Charente
Charente is a department in southwestern France, in the Poitou-Charentes region, named after the Charente River, the most important river in the department, and also the river beside which the department's two largest towns, Angoulême and Cognac, are sited.-History:Charente is one of the original...
(2010), where she spends a lot of time.