Secret of the Shell

About the Book

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About the Author

Maria Shkhyan was born in Yerevan (Armenia). Both her parents had an artistic background. Her mother is a professional pianist and teacher, well known for her classical piano performances. Her father, was a famous ballet dancer and choreograph (amongst his friends was the world famous ballet dancer R. Nurejev). He was touring with his ensemble in many countries abroad. Growing up in such an inspiring environment had a significant and long lasting effect on Maria’s emerging talent as an artist. She has studied for more than 5 years in Yerevan (Armenia), specialising in Illustration, Fine Art and Sculpture(1990-1995). When she was in her early twenties two children books with her illustrations were published in her homeland with excellent reviews for her work, in 2005 followed another children book, her first own written story together with her illustrations. Her art work has been exhibited at different venues in Armenia, some of her paintings are on permanent display in the capital Yerevan. In 2006 she was awarded with an artist visa to live and work in Britain based on her artistic abilities and achievements. She is now based in Reading, Berkshire. Since then she has exhibited her work at different venues in Reading. (Riverside Museum at Blake’s Lock in Reading, Central Library, Oracle Shopping Centre Reading, Trinity Church Lower Earley, Reading. She has donated a big oil painting “Nativity” to the local church (on permanent display at the chapel of Trinity Church in Lower Earley, Reading.