I’m Shelley Perry, a landscape artist, teacher and lifelong creative based in Bournemouth, Dorset. After a career nurturing creativity in children, I have increasingly devoted myself to my own artistic practice, creating expressive landscapes inspired by the light, colour and energy of the Dorset coastline.

In 2011, I moved to the Dominican Republic, where I co-hosted my first exhibition, Dual Bearings. Four years in the Caribbean had a lasting influence on my approach to colour and place. On returning to the UK, I continued my studies with an MA in History of Art at Birmingham University. Since settling on the south coast, the sea, surrounding landscape and memories of time spent by the shore with my family have become enduring sources of inspiration.

A pivotal moment in my practice came in 2024, when I responded to SPUDWORKS’ open call, Let Go. I set my brushes aside and began painting directly with my hands. My work was selected for the exhibition, and I have painted exclusively with my fingers and hands ever since.

Working directly with my hands creates an instinctive, physical connection between myself and the canvas. Freed from the precision of a brush, I respond intuitively to colour, texture and movement, allowing each painting to develop through touch and gesture. I am drawn to unexpected colour combinations and enjoy placing bold colours together to explore their energy and interaction.

My work has become increasingly playful and experimental, incorporating stencilled spray-painted patterns, neon accents and fluid acrylic inks. Drips, spontaneous marks and unexpected outcomes embrace the element of chance within my process. While rooted in recognisable landscapes, my paintings seek to capture not simply a view, but the atmosphere, energy and emotional experience of being immersed in nature.