The Reward Appears (Bealach na Bà Pass, near Applecross, Scotland)

On a trip to Scotland a few years ago we drove through a landscape that was quite barren. The road twisted and turned and started to descend. It was then that a beautiful vista opened up in front of us as the mountains abruptly ended and the coastline with the village of Applecross appeared in the distance.

I later learned the name of the pass that we went through - Bealach na Bà.

Most of my painting is done using hand-shaped tools (made from recycled industrial waste) and paintbrushes to make multi-layered artworks. This is part of my everyday attempts to re-use and recycle materials. I'm attracted by the haphazard mark-making, patterns and textures that the tools make on the canvas and the exciting possibilities they present.

I love the way that colours change depending upon which colours they are next to; I love the random parts that occur from just putting paint down; the patterns, the lines, the themes. I like that moment when the whole thing comes together (although not always) - partly through intention and partly due to happy accidents. Mostly, though, I think it’s the journey of it and the happy feelings when other people like my work. I like that.

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One of Shirley's favourite memories of attending school when she was five, is one in which her teacher (whose name is long forgotten), asked Shirley to draw a house. It was proudly displayed on the board with the words "Shirley can draw houses". Since then, Shirley has been involved with art in many ways.
She has travelled throughout Australia and the USA teaching in various mediums to students in hobbyist courses, whilst practising and developing her own artistic skills.

Passionate about promoting art in the local community, Shirley is the current President of the Ferntree Gully Arts Society, a position she has held for six years and was an active contributor to the Knox Arts and Cultural Advisory Committee for seven years.
With an interest in cultivating and encouraging art in younger people, Shirley instigated the after-school and school holiday art programs at The Hut Gallery (Vic, Aust) and currently teaches an art class for teens at that venue.
In 2019 she was asked to judge the art show at a local school (Yarra Hills Secondary College) and has also judged two art shows for the Ferntree Gully U3A, all of which she takes very seriously.

Relatively new to painting, Shirley prefers to paint in acrylics and watercolour, however, she has dabbled in many other mediums. Her style ranges from small realistic watercolour and coloured pencil sketches, to larger acrylic works using a combination of hand-shaped tools (made from recycled industrial materials) and paintbrushes to make multi-layered artworks in what might be termed a “colourful but recognisable” style.

"A commission came from a friend whom I had known since primary school and had reconnected with a few years ago. Janet had become quite ill and in March 2020 she asked me to do a couple of portraits of her cats and of her dogs.
I was glad to do paintings of her pets that gave her so much happiness. Sadly, Janet never got to see those paintings as she passed away in April 2020.
I love to portray animals that are important in peoples lives; I love to paint the places that I've been and mostly, I think it's important to have your heart in your work."