The Studio
Step inside
the studio.
Something new
is taking shape.
Every piece begins as a feeling — a face, a moment, a silence that refuses to stay quiet. This is the work in progress. Raw, unfinished, and already alive.
Check back as the canvas fills in. The process is part of the story.
My art is inspired, never calculated.
When it calls out to me, I answer.
Intafayrin Betsi
The name comes from a beloved Belizean skit written by Mose Hyde of Krem TV. Two neighbors live side by side. Sharon Marin receives a truckload of boxes and barrels from the United States — a deeply Belizean tradition — and comes down the steps beaming with excitement.
Her neighbor, played by actress Linda Blease, spends the entire time peeking through the blinds. Watching. Jealous. In Belize, there's a phrase for people like her — Intafayrin Betsi.
It is unmistakably, unapologetically Belizean — and one of my most treasured works.
"I saw Linda looking through the blinds and it was one of the still shots I knew I had to hold on to forever."
— Jeannie Shaw
Portrait of Jean Ursilla Shaw
In January 2008, the Belize Tourism Board officially inaugurated its newly renovated downtown headquarters — and chose to dedicate the building to the memory of a woman who had given her life to Belizean tourism: Jean Ursilla Shaw, nee Weir.
Jean Shaw was a founding member and the first President of the Belize Tourism Industry Association (BTIA) from 1985–1988 — the only president to serve a three-year term. She was the proprietor of the Hotel Mopan on Regent Street, one of Belize's oldest and longest-serving establishments, and a true pioneer of the rustic, authentic Belizean tourism experience.
At the dedication ceremony, Tourism Director Tracy Panton honored her legacy as "a true pioneer, industry activist, devoted mother, beloved sister, dear friend and neighbor." Jeannie Shaw was commissioned by Anthony Mahler, Head of Product Development at the BTB, to paint her mother's portrait for the occasion — a daughter's tribute rendered in acrylic, now displayed permanently at the BTB headquarters in Belize City.
"She made no apologies for the rustic, unsophisticated yet charming tourism product we offer. Her desire was to preserve the authenticity of the Belize experience."Permanently displayed · Belize Tourism Board HQ · Belize City
— Tracy Panton, Director of Tourism · BTB Inauguration, January 2008
Exhibition History
Where the work
has been shown.
From solo exhibitions in Belize City to international recognition, a life's work on view.
Solo Exhibition — Fiesta Inn
Fiesta Inn · Belize City, Belize
Jeannie's first solo exhibition — a milestone that announced her arrival as a serious visual artist. Presented at the Fiesta Inn in Belize City, the exhibit showcased her early acrylic on canvas works and marked the beginning of a lifelong commitment to sharing her vision with the world.
In Honor — Image Factory Art Foundation
Image Factory Art Foundation · Belize City, Belize
Presented on December 6th, 2000, this exhibition was a deeply personal tribute held in honor of Jeannie's mother. The Image Factory Art Foundation — one of Belize's most celebrated cultural institutions — provided the space for this emotionally charged and artistically significant showing.
In MemoryThe Art of Belize: Then and Now
Inter-American Development Bank · International Exhibition
Featured alongside leading Belizean artists including Gilvano Swasey, Michael Gordon, Yasser Musa, and Jules Vásquez in this IDB-organized survey of contemporary Belizean visual art. Organized in collaboration with the Museums of Belize and the Image Factory Foundation.
International RecognitionWomen's Month Exhibition
Belize
Featured as part of Women's Month celebrations — a recognition of Jeannie's work and its deep resonance with themes of womanhood, identity, and beauty. Her most recent Women's Month feature, with earlier appearances in prior years.
Featured ArtistNational Recognition
Featured at the
Museum of Belize
Jeannie Shaw's photography has been featured at the Museum of Belize — a recognition of her work that extends beyond painting into her eye for documentary and cultural photography.
The Collection
Pieces that
define the work.
A curated selection of the most significant paintings from the studio — wall art, cultural pieces, and works that carry a story.