Inspired by the natural beauty of Western Canada, Shirley paints landscapes and streetscapes using oils as her preferred medium. Her work conveys a sense of undisturbed and unchanged places captured for a moment in time through light and vibrant colour. Drawn to the luminosity and changing reflections of water, many of Shirley’s paintings feature scenes set by oceans, lakes, and streams.

The opportunity and time to pursue art presented itself as the result of a motor vehicle accident that limited Shirley's physical activities for a few years. In 2016, Shirley enrolled in her first art course at Alberta University of the Arts (AU Arts) and discovered a passion for oil painting.

Since then, Shirley has taken numerous workshops and courses and been mentored by Alberta-based professional artists/teachers including Michael J. Downs and Mark Vazquez-Mackay. 

Shirley lives in Sylvan Lake and Calgary, Alberta.