Shelley The Artist

MY STORY

I was five years old when I realised creativity was in my DNA. I may not have understood it then, but I knew I was in a long-term relationship with art.

My lifelong artistic infatuation began in London, where I was born. A friend of mine was creating murals for members of the royal family, and she taught me how to use acrylic paints and paint large scale pieces – a good lesson that served me well later on.

At nineteen, I boarded a plane for Los Angeles, knowing so much more than I know now. in LA I would learn how to draw and paint. But it always comes back to London, the city where I got my early commissions, and have returned to most of my life. In retrospect, my naivety was my superpower, and I developed an American heart for my hometown.

In time I became a muralist, covering walls of businesses and private residences from Sunset Blvd. to Laguna, London to New York. I also completed commissions for LAX, Sony Pictures, Trader Joe’s, Melissa McCarthy, Bafta, Chateau Marmutt and Hollywood Hounds, which triggered a series of dog paintings.

I began to receive commissions for live portrait sessions – sketching guests at hotels, painting on TV, taking a residence at Paramount, and sketching on the rooftop of a well-known hotel whilst capturing a burlesque show. My artistic services were contracted by all kinds of businesses: doctors’ offices, law firms, dentists, as well as many private homes. I was also featured in the Los Angeles Times for one of my airport pieces.

I would make many trips to London. Always taking the time to go to the museums and see the new shows. A defining moment presented itself in the form of J.W. Turner. I was so caught up in his paintings and knew there was only one way to get there – oils. Up and till then, I was an acrylic painter, but I knew in my heart this would be my next chapter.

Evans Webb was the head of scenic painting at one of the movie studios for many years and his admirable list of credits included The Godfather. He was a beautiful painter, and his knowledge of art and technique were unsurpassed. Evans changed my life and my work. His approach was the antithesis of today’s world – he was rude, critical, and challenged me every day. Something must have clicked however, because our exchange led to a brand-new series and a solo show in London’s Chelsea.

I took the studio next door to Evans and began teaching. This became and remains a deeply rooted passion for me. I am currently on the faculty of the Brentwood Art Center, where I teach via Zoom, along with teaching live classes in London, where I currently live.

Unlike L.A., where the landscape is viewed from a car window, London has no such filter. It’s an urban city where people push, shove and stride their way down the streets. This provides my voyeuristic heart with daily inspiration. I am fascinated with people and their stories. I draw incessantly and as an Urban Sketcher use pen, water colours and whatever is available to make art. I particularly enjoy drawing people on trains and handing my portraits to my unsuspecting victims.

My latest venue is The Milestone Hotel & Residences, part of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, where I’m the Resident Artist. It’s everything I embrace in life. I get to do live sketching, which is fast and unflinching, and I meet interesting people from every walk of life.

I have previously been hired to do live sketching at Petit Ermitage in L.A. but this new association is my favourite so far. The response to my work here has been terrific. We are adding a new feature to the artist residency in the form of dog portraits at The Egerton House Hotel. I love making these, it’s so much fun and clearly brings people joy. We all are mad about our dogs.

With my feet firmly planted on the ground, my eyes are also shifting towards 2024. I’m currently planning a solo show with my new series. Alongside all the fun and adventures of my residency, I am feeling compelled to make a new statement and tell a different story, including some larger paintings on canvas.

I enjoy the varied aspects of being an artist and a teacher. To stay relevant means digging deeper and allowing for constant changes. After all, to keep a long-term relationship fresh,you must embrace change.