My name is Sharon Shuttleworth and I live in Airdrie, Alberta. My painting passion started in 2010 when I enrolled in an Adult Education acrylic painting course. No one was more surprised than me to find out there was a little tiny artist hidden inside me, and I’ve been painting ever since.

Acrylics are my favourite medium because they are so forgiving and versatile in nature. Lately, watercolours have been my focus and I’m also dabbling in acrylic pouring. 

In the past my paintings have tended to be quite realistic in nature. While I enjoy the attention to detail that is needed to achieve realism, sometimes I get too detailed so my focus has been leaning towards loosening up a bit. Colour mixing is my passion and I accidentally developed a technique that lets me paint any subject with a limited palette of colours and have it look realistic even if the colours are different than the photo reference. It’s so much fun!

Commissioned pieces are my favourite pieces to paint because I never know what a client will ask for and I love the challenge. To be trusted to capture a special memory on canvas is an honour and I do my very best to capture the soul of a beloved animal, the atmosphere of a special place, or even the gleam of a shiny vehicle. I know the painting has been done well when the client gets emotional upon seeing it.

When I’m not painting, I’m busy supporting my marathon-running husband and daughter and tackling some trail races myself. I also give adult painting classes in my tiny studio.