Originally from Vancouver BC, I got both my BFA and BDes in Communications Design (Honours) from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design way back in the 90’s. It was there that I developed a passion for beautiful typography and a love of white space.
My first job as a designer was designing children’s novelty toys in Cornwall NS and dabbling in website design on the side while I finished my BFA. It’s mind blowing how far site design has come since it’s simple beginnings!
I moved back to Vancouver after finishing at NSCAD to be close to family and the mountains. After a few years of bouncing around different marketing agencies and design firms I opened my own boutique design studio in a super tiny office on West Pender Street. Fast forward 30 some odd years and I am still loving being a graphic designer today as much as I did when I was in art school!
One of my favourite things to do is work with new business to help them build their brands and watch their dream become a reality. My other passion as a graphic designer is working with Artists and Galleries on their marketing and branding. Both are incredibly inspirational and fuffilling for me.
Being an avid skier and hiker since I was old enough to walk, I can easily say I am happiest outdoors. I draw a lot of inspiration and energy from my time in this beautiful wilderness that we are lucky enough to be surrounded by in British Columbia. So it’s not surprising that in my spare time I am also an active landscape painter and amateur photographer.
About three years ago I moved from Kitsilano back to my home town just outside of Vancouver in Tsawwassen BC where I now work and live with my partner, son and our two dogs.
If your curious about my landscape painting practice or would like to check out my next show feel free to visit my artist website at www.shelleywales.ca or give me a follow on instagram at /49thnorthcreative
PS. The photo was taken by my son on one of our hikes a couple of summers ago. At the time we were on a month long road trip to Tuktoyaktuk in the North West Territories. It was our second time driving the Dempster and definitely won’t be the last, we love it.