Shirley Howells

Born, 1934, in Cape Town, Shirley has been painting since 1985. Although she works in all media she leans towards the use of pastel for portrait studies, oils for landscapes, still life and florals and acrylics for her bright decorative art. Joining the Watercolour Society of South Africa in 2003 she achieved Associate status in 2005, and has had a number of works judged Best on Show by both the public and the Society.

Her work has been well received and purchased by visitors to South Africa from Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, England, Germany, Canada and The Netherlands. Both South African and overseas Galleries presently represent her.

Since 1995 she has won numerous awards for both drawing and painting and has had work judged best on show by both selectors and the public. In 1997 she had a successful one man exhibition of her work in Birmingham, Detroit, U.S.A. One of her works has been included in an international book on Still Life/Flowers, which publication was launched in January 2004. In 2000 she successfully participated in the annual Art in the Park exhibition in Pietermaritzburg. Two of her paintings are included in The “Unity Canvas”, commemorating 9/11, which has been on display throughout the United States.

Her work has been bought by individual collectors all over South Africa and she has received commissions for both corporate work and portrait studies. The State President of Tanzania has included two of her paintings in his collection. Her religious art can be seen in the Catholic Seminary, Umtata; Mariannhill Monastery Retreat House, as well as Mariawald Retreat Centre, Reading, Pennsylvania. USA and St Bernard’s Convent, London, Canada.