Susannah Hersey Fiennes (née Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes; born 27 February 1961) is a British artist who has worked extensively with King Charles III and is collected in Europe, Asia and America.
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Biography
Fiennes is the daughter of Nathaniel Fiennes, 21st Baron Saye and Sele (1920−2024), who changed the family's surname from Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes to Fiennes by deed poll in 1965, and Mariette Helena Salisbury-Jones (b. 1935), of Broughton Castle, Oxfordshire. She is the twin sister of the current Baron, Martin Fiennes, and a cousin of the actor Ralph Fiennes. She was educated at Marlborough College and then at the Slade School of Art where she graduated with First Class Honours in 1983.
From 1985 to 1987, she taught art and history of art at Dulwich College, London. Subsequently, she ran a private art class in Westminster, London, from 1987 to 1993. In 1994, she had a painting class at the National Portrait Gallery, London.
In 1995, she came to national attention when she was recommended by a friend to King Charles, who was at the time Prince of Wales. She became the tour artist with the King in Oman. In 1997 she was again chosen to tour with the King, on this occasion to Hong Kong to record the handing over of the territory to China. The King funded the tour and, in return, chose which paintings he wished to keep. She toured with him to Argentina, Uruguay and the Falkland Islands in 1999.
Between 1999 and 2004, she had a studio and home in New York. She currently has studios in Wales and Ireland and teaches at the Royal Drawing School in London.
She has written a series of articles on this for Prospect and The Daily Telegraph. She has also featured in Tatler.
Exhibitions
Solo exhibitions
Thomas Williams Fine Art Gallery, London: Making Music 2005
Somoza-Sims Gallery, Houston, Texas 2000
Grosvenor Gallery, London 1999
Raphael Valls Gallery, London 1998
National Portrait Gallery, London: Chinese Characters 1998
Cadogan Contemporary Gallery, London 1992 and 1994
Group exhibitions
Group exhibitions include:
The Forbes Gallery, 5th Ave, New York City 2000
Hampton Court Palace, London. Travels with the Prince. 1998
National Museum of Wales, Cardiff. Princes as Patrons. 1998
Cadogan Contemporary, London 1990 and 1997
The National Portrait Gallery, London. BP Portrait Exhibition 1989, 1991 and 1993
Awards
BP Travel Award (China) 1993
British Institution Fund Award, Royal Academy (London) 1984
Boise Travel Scholarship (Italy) 1983
Collections
Her paintings are in several collections including:
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales
The House of Commons, Westminster, London
Hambros Bank, London, New York, Hong Kong
The National Portrait Gallery, London
Royal College of Psychiatrists, London.
Barings Bank, London