Shelley is a full-time artist and art instructor. She has written that her watercolour painting style has evolved into a highly realistic style covering a variety of subjects which may include birds & wildlife, nature, portraits, floral, still life & landscape. Subjects with reflective qualities like glass and metal are especially intriguing to me. “I’m a very active instructor teaching regular classes as well as travelling to teach workshops throughout Ontario, Canada and occasionally in the US which I’ve done for about 30 years. Although I paint in acrylic and oil as well, my main medium is watercolour.”

Artist Statement:
I love the transparency and luminosity of watercolour. It’s something that is unique to only watercolour. Every subject presents new challenges and pushes me to try new techniques and different methods. Many years of experimentation (and yes, lots of failures) have taught me to use quality materials and plan ahead in my painting, as watercolours are less forgiving than other mediums. Every success is a real triumph though and I love to share what I’ve learned with other painters.
Light is a crucial element in almost everything I paint. For me, it’s the life of the painting. I always strive to have interesting lighting in my work and try to create it through the application of subtle glazes and deep rich shadows.