Celebrated book artist donates life’s work to university archives

One of Wales' most renowned book artists has donated her life's work to Cardiff University. The collection of Shirley Jones, founder of The Red Hen Press, is now housed at the institution's Special Collections and Archives and open to all. The donation of 28 books, made between 1975 and 2016, is the largest of its kind to the University by a living Welsh female artist and the only complete collection of her work. As well being able to view the physical copies, the entire collection is being digitised and will be available to view and download for free online. The skilled artist and writer's books are almost entirely her own work - from prose and illustrations to printing and bookbinding. Welsh and Anglo Saxon themes, including landscapes, myths and the natural world feature prominently. Jones' work has been widely exhibited, including three-month solo retrospective exhibitions at the Victoria and Albert Museum, National Library of Wales, the National Museum and Art Gallery in Cardiff and Newport Museum.