Shani Rhys James

Shani Rhys James MBE (born 1953) 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" 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". Growing up in Australia during her early years was by her own admission a particular contributing factor from her childhood to her decision to make art a career.

Early education took place in Eltham, Australia from 5 to 9 years of age then Parliament Hill Girls School, London.

Rhys James is known particularly for her melancholy self-portraits. Her 1993 Studio with Gloves shows her sitting in her studio. When she is not painting herself she generally paints other women, still lifes, 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". Prints, studies in charcoal and ink are also produced by Rhys James as well as painting.

Rhys James has been elected to the Royal Cambrian Academy of Art and the 56 Group Wales.

Rhys James has exhibited across Europe, also in the US, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia. 2015 – Distillation, landmark exhibition of Shani Rhys James's work at the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth

Prizes and awards Listed by Martin Tinney Gallery unless otherwise stated. 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 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 Wales

Personal life Rhys James is married to artist Stephen West

She has bought a second home in Charente, France (2010), where she spends a lot of time.