Shenda Amery

Shenda Amery is a painter and sculptor. She was chosen to sculpt the busts of two sitting British Prime Ministers, Margaret Thatcher and John Major, and to paint the portrait of Prime Minister Tony Blair, which portrait hung at Chequers, the Prime Ministers’ official country residence. She has sculpted many well-known people including King Hussein and Queen Noor.

Amery was born in England and grew up in Somerset, Surrey, Essex and London. She studied chemistry and moved to Tehran in 1959 to work as a chemist at Tehran University. Amery started painting in Iran in 1970, training under Iranian and American painting masters then living in Iran. Amery also trained under Ling Po.

Amery's mixed media works reflect her view of what man is doing to the world and to the environment. Amery addresses the breakdown of society, overpopulation, pollution, greed and violence. Amery's works complement each other and create a forced tension not easily overlooked. Amery wants "like a spider, to coax [her] audience into a trap where they are forced to interact with thoughts and feelings they may not want to address." Amery's works are emblematic of her Anglo-Iranian life and the various Iranian, Islamic and Eastern influences.

Exhibitions of Amery's work including shows at the Royal Society of British women sculptors, Cleveland’s Dorman Museum, London’s Orangery and at various museums in Iran.