Part of the New Light Prize Exhibition 2020

Brian Shields was born on the North Yorkshire coast. He undertook a Foundation Course at Teesside College of Art before heading south to further his studies at Wimbledon School of Art and Greenwich University respectively.

On leaving education Brian set up a successful craft business making jewellery and home decor based in London and latterly Brighton. Over the intervening years his desire to return north remained and five years ago he came back. He now lives and works in Eden, North Cumbria. Having recently built a studio, he now devotes himself full time to his artistic practices.

Selected exhibitions include: National Portrait Gallery (3x finalist); The Royal Society of Portrait Painters; Oriel Mostyn; Mall Galleries; The Scottish National Portrait Gallery; Birmingham Literary Festival (Poetry and Film); UpFront Gallery; Cleveland International Drawing Biennale.