About:
Painting still-life works in oil on linen canvas, I work directly from life, creating subtle images that explore the powerful simplicity of everyday objects and scenes. My colours range from muted tones to nature’s brightest hues, which along with powerful knife work, give my paintings a shimmering and immediate quality.
I paint what I find compelling; everyday thing such as pots or bottles, draped cloth, fruit or a bunch of plants. Painting is my way of exploring their vibrant character while at the same time using the subject as a vehicle for a degree of abstraction. I love manipulating and playing with the oil paint and its magnificent colours and textures.
I was awarded the People’s Prize at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 2015, and my work is held in the Jerwood Foundation Painting Collection. I exhibit extensively in Wales, the wider UK and France, and now live and work at my home in Wales near the historic market town of Hay-on-Wye, where the studio looks out across the exceptional beauty of the Black Mountains.
“Menna has been painting things for a long time; eggs, fruits, plants and also textiles, cakes, clothing, bottles, the usual suspects of Still Life.
All are endowed with radiant energy and burning purpose. Textiles seem to tell of the miracle which is about to occur, clothing mourns a past wearer, cakes are individual portraits of hubristic confections, bottles bring long and chequered pasts with them, living plant material hums with a silent life force”
-Anwyl Cooper-Willis, artist, author, curator.
Articles:
See Drift Magazine's winter feature on Menna's painting
CV
Education
MA Fine Art, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, 2007
Fine Art Foundation, Byam Shaw School of Art, 1991
BSc Botany, Bangor University, 1982
Awards
The People’s Prize, Gwobr Joseff Herman, National Eisteddfod of Wales 2015
Contemporary Art Society for Wales Purchase Prize 2015
Ludlow Summer Exhibition Prize, 2008
Collections
Jerwood Foundation Painting Collection
Portmeirion Village Collection
Residencies
Plas Brondanw, 2023
Solo Exhibitions
Still Life, Oriel Brondanw, Llanfrothen 2022
Biannual Exhibitions, Ty Tan Art, Hay on Wye, 2019 - 2021
Recent paintings, Caffi Plas Brondanw, Llanfrothen 2014
Menna Angharad, Bocabar, Bristol, 2014
Still, The Galleries Bristol with Alldaybreakfast, Bristol, 2013
Menna Angharad Ludlow prize exhibition, The Assembly Rooms, Ludlow, 2009
Group Exhibitions
ING Discerning Eye Exhibition, selected by Will Gompertz, The Mall Galleries, London 2024
Pensychnant Open, Pensychnant Nature Reserve, Conway 2024
Oriel Brondanw Open, Oriel Brondanw, Llanfrothen, 2024
Spring Open, Cardiff Made, 2023
Oriel Brondanw Open, Llanfrothen, 2023
Summer Exhibition, Plas Glyn y Weddw, Pwllheli, 2019
Connexion, Plas Glyn y Weddw, Pwllheli, 2019
Y Le Celf, National Eisteddfod of Wales, Meifod, 2015
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Contains Art, Watchet 2015
3 Artistes de Viam, Eglise de Viam, France, 2014
Y Lle Celf, National Eisteddfod of Wales, Denbigh, 2013
Ludlow Summer Exhibition, Ludlow College, Ludlow 2013
M Angharad + Elfyn Lewis, Gallery/ten, Cardiff, 2013
J Stiff & M Angharad, Maison de Granite, France, 2012
Project/ten, various locations, Cardiff, 2011 - 2012
La Femme, Maison de Granite, Bugeat, France, 2011
Summer Exhibition, Tarc Gallery, Bromyard, 2010
Domesticated, Old Post Office, Swindon, 2010
Salon d’Automne, Vierzon, France, 2009
Ludlow Summer Exhibition, Ludlow College, Ludlow, 2009
Pillows, Oriel Caffi Croesor, Gwynedd, 2009
Sub Rosa, St David's Hall, Cardiff, 2009
Welsh Contemporaries, Salem Chapel Gallery, Hay-on-Wye, 2009
Women Painters, Mumbles Road Gallery, Mumbles, 2009
Exeter Contemporary Open, Exeter Phoenix, Exeter 2008
Ludlow Summer Exhibition, Ludlow College, Ludlow 2008
Welsh Contemporaries, 35 West Square, London, 2007
Summer Exhibition, Kooywood Gallery, Cardiff, 2007
Welsh Contemporaries, Salem Chapel Gallery, Hay-on-Wye, 2007
Welsh Contemporaries, Woburn Gallery, London, 2006
Menna Angharad & Jeremy Stiff, The Koywood Gallery, Cardiff 2005