MFPA Student Artist

Born: 1960
Lives in: South Wales
Painting style: Mouth painter
Subjects: Portrait, Figurative, Abstract, Sunset, Silhouette, Landscape, Water, Scenery, Animals, Flowers, Still Life, Sketches and everything in between!

Using Watercolour, Acrylic, Ink and Oil Paints - always Bright and Bold colours.

ROSALEEN MORIARTY-SIMMONDS OBE - Describes herself as a Disabled Businesswoman, Equality Campaigner, Prolific Volunteer and Charitable Worker; Author, Actor, Media Presenter, Inspirational Speaker and Artist with the world renowned, Mouth & Foot Painting Artists.

Born without arms or legs as a result of her mother having been prescribed the drug Thalidomide during pregnancy; this has not prevented Rosaleen from leading a full and active life. She graduated from Cardiff University in 1985 with a degree in Psychology, then worked as an Executive Officer in the Civil Service for seven years, before establishing the RMS Disability Issues Consultancy in 1995 (www.rms-consultancy.co.uk).

A keen supporter of performing arts, Rosaleen has worked with disabled and non-disabled, professional and amateur performers. Her most recent acting foray was in “The Cardiff Tapes” performed at Chapter Arts Centre in 2019. Rosaleen is also a freelance television and radio presenter. With regular appearances on BBC Radio Wales, she was commissioned by them to present four programmes called 'Rosie's World’. You will also often hear her speaking at conferences, book clubs, schools and after diner events.

In June 2007, Rosaleen completed and published her autobiography, intertwining her life story with a definitive history of the drug Thalidomide. ‘Four Fingers and Thirteen Toes’ was re-published in 2009, the story continues through her regular blog at - https://www.rms-consultancy.co.uk/blog/

Happily married to Stephen, her lifetime friend, and with one son, Rosaleen’s hobbies are theatre and concert going, and photography.

A member of many disability and other organisations, Rosaleen is also a Vice President of the Cardiff Business Club, and protagonist for the Thalidomide Memorial - dedicated in June 2016, which marks the lives and achievements of Thalidomide Impaired people globally. Also, Patron of Flamingo Chicks, Patron of Flat Spaces, and Chairperson of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Board for Cardiff University.

After a lifetime of Campaigning for Rights and Equality for Disabled People, Rosaleen was awarded an OBE in the 2015 Queen's New Years Honours List. She also received an Honorary Fellowship from Cardiff University in July 2017, for "Her Outstanding Work and contribution to the Equality and Rights of Disabled People". In December 2018, Rosaleen received an Honorary Doctorate and Honorary Fellowship from Swansea University, again for her equality work.

She is currently High Sheriff in Nomination for South Glamorgan 2022-2023.