Art student kicks off her rugby exhibition during 6 Nations
Published Wednesday 2nd March 2011
BA Fine Art Painting and Drawing and Advertising student Rianna Lane has teamed up with former Welsh international player Brian Davies to launch an exhibition of paintings.
The exhibition coincides with the 6 Nations Rugby Tournament.
The 'Up and Under' exhibition, running at Rhondda Heritage Park in Cardiff until the tournament closes on 20
March, features striking paintings of players, referees, commentators and
personalities from the rugby world - with works ranging from the James brothers
of the 1890s, through to players of today including James Hook, Martyn Williams
and Mike Phillips.
Rianna, who is studying at The University of Northampton, painted 19 pieces for
the exhibition. Two sold within 10 minutes of the exhibition opening and
another two 'sold' signs quickly followed.
The 20-year-old, originally from Cardiff, held her first rugby exhibition at the age of 16, with some of her rugby portraits being exhibited at the Twickenham Museum of Rugby throughout the 6 Nations Tournament in 2009.
I have loved rugby since I was a teenager, so it made sense to marry my two interests - the sport and painting,
I was approached to do the exhibition last summer, so I only had a few months to put all my pieces together. It was a tight timeframe, especially as my priority is my degree and I had to combine the painting with my full time summer job, but I am proud of my achievement and hope to be able to do this again. My ambition is to have a career as a painter but for now I am focusing on graduating.
Rianna Lane, BA Fine Art Painting and Drawing and Advertising student
Rianna,
a keen supporter of Wales in the 6 Nations, also produced a motivational piece
for the country in 2008 which was presented to the team prior to their Grand
Slam Victory. It now hangs at the Welsh home ground at the Millennium Stadium.
Rianna's co-exhibitor Brian Davies, whose sporting career was cut short by a knee injury, has painted 40 pieces for the exhibition at Rhodnda Heritage Park, just outside Cardiff.