James Shand

Growing up in the wilds of Wales, I loved being outside observing and sketching birds, flowers, and nature in general. I later won a scholarship to study at the Studio of Charterhouse school going on to produce a portfolio in watercolour, oil, gouache, charcoal, etching, linocut, silkscreen printing, and ceramics. There were also regular life-drawing classes which taught me the need to observe rigorously. The urge to travel then took me to live in the Atlas Mountains and, today, inspiration for my work still comes from travelling with sketchbook and a small watercolour palette, striving to capture the essence of a place. Today I live in the south of France, in the town of Vence, enjoying the intense light and colours of this region. My works are owned by private collectors in the USA and Europe.

In watercolour I am mostly self-taught, but my style developed through the tuition I received at school over seven years. I won a scholarship to study art at Charterhouse school where I learnt to draw architecture and paint landscapes, both of which feature in my work today. This training included various media, but today I love using watercolour paint to its fullest extent to capture effects of light, tone and colour. It can be frustrating sometimes but equally rewarding.

Art Workers' Guild, London, 28th June to 2nd July 2022. Fifty two of my recent watercolours and those of my father.

SALON D'AQUARELLE - Céret, France, 25th June - 3rd July 2025