In 1999 Mary Shields wrote the following 'Artist's Statement':

"I think that a good piece of art says different things to different people but keeps its own permanent core of vitality. My paintings attempt to achieve this state mainly through the observation of light and use of colour to express the mood of the light or darkness.

"As a countrywoman living in the South West of England I explore the changing aspects of the local landscape. There is a sense of mystery or drama behind natural appearances which I try to convey by heightening colour relationships and concentrating the tension of forms in my work.

"My method is to do very little preliminary drawing work but to have an idea sparked off by something I have seen, perhaps for only a few moments. I then work it out on the actual canvas or paper over a period of several months mostly in the studio, so that the work gradually acquires depth and atmosphere. Thus my paintings are not portraits of actual places but evocations of mood in landscape."

Exhibitions
Solo exhibitions at various venues include:

Twickenham Institute of Adult Education 1979
Dillington College, Somerset 1987
York University 1989
Bridport Arts Centre, Dorset, 1992
Axminster Festival, Devon, artist in residence 1994
Local Devon Galleries, a number of smaller shows 1985-99
Bridport Arts Centre 2000.
Posthumous: Dolphin House Gallery, Colyton, 2001
Thelma Hulbert Gallery and St Paul's Church, Honiton, 2003

Invited exhibitions with two or more other artists
include:

South London Art Gallery 1978
The RWA Bristol "Homage to Claude Rogers"
Exhibition
Alpha House Gallery, Sherborne, 1999

Mixed shows include:

The Royal Academy
The RWA Bristol
Mall Galleries, London
British Watercolours Exhibition, London