Timeline

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. William Packer, art critic of the Financial Times, has spoken of her as a painter of remarkable power whose paintings are as convincing as anything currently being produced in Britain.

Selected Collections

National Museum Wales, Cardiff

Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow

Newport Museum and Art Gallery

Glynn Vivian Museum & Art Gallery

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

1989 First Prize, Wales Open, Aberystwyth Arts Centre

BBC Wales

1990 Second Prize, Wales Open, Aberystwyth Arts Centre

1992 Gold Medal for Fine Art, Royal National Eisteddfod

She has won numerous prizes including The Jerwood Prize (the UK’s most prestigious and valuable prize for painting), The Hunting Prize, The National Portrait Award, The Mostyn Open, and the Gold Medal at the National Eisteddfod. She was the recipient of the Welsh Woman in Culture Award in 2003 and was made an MBE in the 2006 honours list. More recently she received 'The Glyndwr Award 2007', presented by MOMA for her outstanding contribution to Welsh Art, and has been made an Honorary Fellow of The University of Wales Institute Cardiff.

Her body of collectors, both private and public, continues to expand in Britain and especially abroad, with sales to important private collections in the U.S.A., Belgium, France, Germany, New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong. Recent public collection purchases include two major works to Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art and others to the Arts Council of England and the National Museum of Wales.

Prizes & Awards

2007 Honorary Fellowship from UWIC

2007 Glyndwr Award, presented by MOMO

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 Prizewinner, BP National Portrait Awards

1994 Winner of the BBC Wales Visual Art Award

1993 First Prize, Hunting/Observer Art Prizes

1992-3 Welsh Arts Council Travel Award

1991 First Prize, Mostyn Open, Oriel Mostyn, Llandudno

Private Collections Worldwide