"I found clay a fantastic medium.  I began sculpting with a new fervour."

Shenda occupied herself by escaping into sculpture. Her main work at this time comprised mostly portrait busts and life studies, all of which were worked on at home. In difficult times she discovered an inner strength which she did not know she possessed. "I had always admired women who had struggled with adversity and succeeded". She began to see herself in this light - the need to overcome and survive.

Parallel to discovering her own spirit, she began to feel a great bonding with women and, more importantly, feminism. As a result of this, her interest in the female nude developed. "I was not strong enough to face the enormity of events that had altered my life so dramatically; they were too overwhelming. Yet I began recognising a certain quality in other women."  This new awareness was the inspiration behind her Feline Nude series which she worked on over the next eight or so years. "I wanted to depict women from a woman's point of view - not weak - not as sex objects - not as mothers - not as slaves; all of which I believe to be the tradition of men. I want people to see womanhood in my work - sensual, strong, intelligent and independent."

She first exhibited her nudes at the Orangery in Holland Park in 1982. Two years later she had another one-woman show at the Orangery with a new series of female nudes, emphasising female sexuality. Their distinct sensuality and unique stylisation are the hallmark of Shenda's work of this period. The greatest success with her nudes came when she exhibited Feline Ill at the Royal Academy in I986. The entire edition of 9 was sold in just four weeks. The nudes success drew attention from all parts of the art world. In addition to their London triumph, they have been exhibited at the Jonathan Pool Gallery in New York, the Atkin Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona and the Paris Salon.

Golden Award	Fay	Kristi

In 1984 she was elected to the Royal Society of British Sculptors. 1984 also saw her 'Marriage of Sculpture and Architecture Exhibition' which celebrated the opening of her new studio designed by her husband, Nezam Khazal.

The eighties was indeed a very busy decade for Shenda. Notable landmarks included the commission for a series of life-size female figures from a corporation in Japan; a sculpture of the ice skating duo, Torville & Dean, from a collector in Washington, and most notably a commission from Help the Aged charity to design the trophy, the Golden Award, for their awards ceremony. The trophy was presented by Princess Diana at a luncheon which takes place annually. And like the Oscar, it has been bestowed annually to worthy recipients of the various categories for distinction throughout their long lives, including Dame Vera Lynn, Lord Grade, Sir John Mills, Jimmy Saville and Dame Thora Hird.