Shelley Wales is an abstract painter based in Sydney, Australia. She works with acrylic, watercolour, oil pastel, and pencil, combining bold mark-making with an intuitive sense of colour. Shelley paints from a place she longs for - where life feels light, carefree, and connected to the open air and natural world that is simple and free.
Shelley’s work is shaped by childhood summers spent by the ocean, where water held both freedom and calm. Growing up with responsibilities from a young age, painting is now her way back to that sense of play and wonder. With a background in design and branding, her layered style reflects emotional depth and a love of visual storytelling.
Tucked into each piece are three subtle ‘kisses’ - symbols that honour personal meaning, and quietly speak to peace, hope, and love. These marks invite viewers to connect with their own memories - a simpler life made rich by sun, salt, and the quiet magic of being near the ocean.
And yes, there’s always a palm tree in sight - even on a cold winter’s day you will find Shelley under one. It’s her happy place.
Statement
I'm captivated by summer - its light and the carefree joy it brings. My work is influenced by storytelling and my childhood memories. I believe our early experiences shape a kind of personal mythology, and this mythology comes alive in my paintings through colour, rhythm, simple shapes, and repetition.
Float in the paint is my mantra - a call to breathe and sink into the curiosity we often lose as we grow up. Each of my works is that invitation to float and exist in a moment where nothing else matters. That’s the feeling I want to capture. My work is a conversation with my inner child - bold and full of wonder. She wants to be seen, to share her joy and tell her stories with the world.
© 2025, All Rights Reserved, Shelley Wales
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