“Kelly, you are full of surprises!” This is a recurring statement I hear.  I was surprised when painting made a grand entrance into my life during 2021, simultaneously ushering in a sense of wonder & belonging. The evolution of my art practice has recently amplified as I document my travels and life experiences. Discovering the beauty of charcoal during an artist workshop in France led by an award winning, acclaimed Australian artist opened a whole new world of creativity.

I use my art practice to express a deep reverence for moments of stillness amidst the rhythms of life. Through careful observation I notice quiet acts of resilience, these small sacred moments translate into works that function not as exact representations but as emotional impressions capturing what is felt. 

Charcoal’s raw, earthy qualities allow me to draw directly from the natural world, its marks are gestural, reminiscent of fleeting shadows. Manipulating layers of acrylic paint with expressive brush work introduces light, depth and narrative. Flora is sourced from my extensive garden and Australian native wildlife corridor, forming the basis for expressive still life, botanical and avian inspired compositions. The boundary between nature and home softens through arrangements of flora brought indoors as still life, my work functions as a visual diary cataloguing ongoing creative possibilities.

My home studio is in the Central West of New South Wales, on Wiradjuri Country, very close to the Blue Mountains. Endearing calls echo across the valley alerting me to the presence of visiting bird life. As an avid gardener I have planted hundreds of locally sourced trees, providing a mutually beneficial relationship between my avian sitters and I. 

As a Special and Inclusive education teacher from 1993 - 2022 I became a life long learner and delivered specialised learning programs for students from Kindergarten to Year 12. This included establishing creative environments to support individual learning needs, sourcing resources from the NSW Creative Arts and Visual Arts syllabus. I completed a Bachelor of Education Primary/Special Education, at the University of Newcastle NSW in 1992.

   “Flora and fauna surprise me, revealing secrets.”

Kelly Anne Shaw