Shelly Bischoff lives in the beautiful foothills of southern Alberta, Canada. She has lived an interesting life and art has been the bright ribbon woven through each chapter. Shelly was born with cerebral palsy affecting her right side. She underwent years of physical therapy to enhance her mobility and during rehabilitation, discovered a passion for drawing and painting.

Her parents nurtured her interest by giving her a beginner’s acrylic paint set. This sparked a lifelong love of creating art. At the age of 15, Shelly joined a group of older women artists where she found support and inspiration in a close-knit artist community. These incredible women, who were all decades her senior at the time, encouraged her to pursue art and honour her creativity. In part due to their influence, Shelly made a commitment to return to her art after starting her career as a Registered Nurse and raising a family.

She returned to her art in the early 2000s after feeling the pull of her brushes once again. Shelly fell in love with watercolour, captivated by its soft, fluid, transparent effects. She creates whimsical animal art with acrylic paint on reclaimed wood and representational art in watercolour. Shelly says each medium allows her to create diverse work that appeals to different audiences. Customers eagerly await new releases her whimsical animal art . Recently, she has focused more on watercolour and has started showing her work to larger audiences. For the first time, Shelly has a dedicated home studio, where she is able to create in her sacred space.

A proud member of the Métis Nation of Alberta (she lives, works and recreates in the Otipemisiwak Region 3), Shelly is deeply grateful for her Indigenous ancestry. She grew up spending time in the bush, picking berries, fishing, learning about wildlife, and camping in remote locations. Here, she developed an appreciation and understanding for nature, spiritual connections, and being a steward of the land. Shelly finds inspiration in the natural beauty of the southern Alberta foothills, mountain ranges, natural bush, prairies, and northern lakes. Shelly is a proud member of the Indigenous Advisory Circle with the Alberta Human Rights Commission.

Wildlife and birds play a special role in Shelly’s work. She loves hours observing and learning from them. You can see how her connection to nature and love for animals come alive. She often immerses herself in nature, communing with trees, listening to the wind, and watching the creatures she encounters. Shelly captures moments from the natural world and infuses them with spiritual elements to tell a story. Shelly is also inspired by memories of her childhood and they are often portrayed in her artwork.

LivIng with her husband on an acreage in the foothills near Calgary, Alberta, Shelly enjoys nature, spends time with her grandchildren, and works on her art. She has undergone several surgeries over the past 10 years related to the long-term effects of cerebral palsy on her mobility. Always grateful, Shelly knows how lucky she is to be able to continue creating art through ongoing health conditions. A strong supporter of all forms of art and diverse artists, she believes art can change perspectives, strengthen connections, and nourish the soul. To gain deeper insight into her work, and explore how her experiences shape her artistic vision, visit the Artwork or Gallery page.