Shani Wray Jenkins

I think I was born with a paintbrush in my hand, and I’ve always painted, although life had other ideas in mind, and I became a fashion designer, a wife, a mum and a writer, in that order. It was a pretty cool lifestyle. I travelled all over the world for the best part of 25 years, soaking up the culture and inspiration and having an absolute ball. But painting… ahhh, painting played ping pong on my heart throughout all those years and refused to be relegated. It took the misery of lockdown for it to rise up triumphant and finally take control of my life.

I’m a self-taught artist, with a penchant for abstracts, semi-abstract landscapes and occasionally, still life and portraits. My work is multi-layered, colourful and energetic with bold passages of paint and intriguing textures. I paint intuitively, starting with no end result in mind, just an urge to pour my emotions, thoughts and dreams out onto the paper in paint, ink, collage, charcoal or whatever else I fancy. It all comes straight from the heart.

I’m inspired and moved by the amazing and the ordinary. My art is about the people I’ve loved, lost or are yet to meet, the wondrous places I’ve travelled to, and the incredible world we inhabit. It’s about the mad and the mundane, and the desire to make the most of every single day.

To see more of my recent work, please visit my Instagram or website pages:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artbyshaniuk
Website: https://artbyshani.co.uk
Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/shaniwrayjenkin


Rutland Open Studios Art Trail 2023 exhibition address:
HAY COTTAGE, Seaton Road, Morcott, LE15 9EB
Dates: 9 - 10, 16 - 17 & 23 - 24 September
Time: 10am - 4pm