Born in Wales, Shelley began figure drawing at age 11, staged her first exhibition as a professional artist at 20, and became a gallery owner at 25. After a career hiatus involving burnout, travel, falling in love, becoming a mother, teaching art, and surviving cancer, Shelley is making art full time again.
Studying art with the force of nature Peter Prendergast in the ’90s, Shelley discovered that her family’s strong work ethic also applied to art. Prendergast’s shouted mantra to his students was to KEEP LOOKING!
That advice stuck. Whether painting landscapes, yogis, wildlife, victims of war or psychologically challenging portraits, Shelley’s willingness to confront the complicated truth of existence with a sense of hope is the hallmark of her work.
Shelley works and lives with her family in Lake Tahoe, California.
