Rhyl Hinwood facts for kids

This memorial in Brisbane, Australia, was sculpted by Rhyl Hinwood.

Rhyl Kingston Hinwood (born in 1940) is a famous sculptor from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. A sculptor is an artist who creates three-dimensional artworks, often by carving or molding materials. Rhyl has created more than 700 public artworks. These are art pieces displayed in places like parks or buildings for everyone to see. In 2006, she received a special award called a Member of the Order of Australia. This award recognized her great work in art, especially her sculptures for public spaces. It also honored her teaching and support for young art students.

Early Life and Art

Rhyl Hinwood was born in Brisbane in 1940. Her maiden name was Jones. Her father, Reuben Morton Jones, was a company secretary. Her mother, Edith May "Maisie" Rouche, was an artist. Both her parents strongly supported Rhyl's interest in art.

Rhyl went to primary school at Yeronga State School. She then attended high school at Somerville House. It was at Somerville House that she first discovered her passion for sculpture. After finishing school, Rhyl studied art at the Central Technical College in Brisbane. She learned from talented teachers, including George Virine.

A Career in Sculpture

From 1958 to 1962, Rhyl worked as an artist at the Queensland Museum. She left this job when she got married. However, she continued to create her art.

Carvings at the University of Queensland

In 1976, Rhyl won a big national competition. The competition was to finish the stone carvings at the Great Court of the University of Queensland. Other artists, like Johannes Theodor Müller, had started these carvings between 1939 and 1952. Since then, Rhyl has created over 250 artworks for the university. Besides the Great Court, she also carved sculptures for the university's Wordsmiths Cafe. These sculptures were inspired by books from the University of Queensland Press.

National Recognition

In 1986, Rhyl Hinwood received a Winston Churchill Memorial Fellowship for sculpture. This fellowship helped her travel and learn more about her art.

In 1987, she was chosen for a very important project. She created the ceramic Australian coat of arms for the Australian House of Representatives in Parliament House, Canberra. This was the first artwork ever ordered and finished for Australia's new Parliament House.

A documentary film was made in 1993. It was called In pursuit of excellence. This film celebrated Rhyl Hinwood's amazing work as a sculptor.

In 2001, the University of Queensland gave Rhyl a special award. She received an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy. This award recognized her outstanding contributions to visual arts in Queensland.

Documenting Her Work

In 2012, Rhyl Hinwood created a database. This database kept track of all the sandstone carvings at the University of Queensland. In 2016, she worked with the university to update a book for visitors. The book, called Carving a history: A guide to the Great Court, helps people learn about the carvings.

In 2021, the University of Queensland published a book written by Rhyl Hinwood herself. It is her memoir, titled A sculptor's vision – Creating a legacy in stone.

Personal Life

In 1962, Rhyl married and changed her last name to Shepherd. She had two children. Later, after 1975, Rhyl married fellow artist Robert Hinwood (1930 – 2023).