Born in 1959 in Redding, California, Shirley received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara, in 1981.

After graduating, her work was primarily abstract, non-representational paintings which settled into mixed media work.

At that time she was experimenting with different mediums to create a heavily textured surface.

Working with mixed media led her to an interest in using metal. At first she incorporated metal into the pieces, then she began to integrate old doors and windows as the canvas to create on.

The figure first appeared in the mixed media pieces by transferring photographs onto the canvases of doors and windows. The work “Passage”, incorporated photos of figures on vellum paper, adhered to the surface of an old screen door.

From there, she began using Liquid Light to transfer photographs directly on to the canvas instead of using assemblage.

She has always loved drawing the figure, which, for the last decade, has been the focus of her work. In 1999 she was inspired by a retrospective of Joan Brown. Her work reaffirmed to her that the figure, as a subject matter, has significance, even if the painting’s are about one’s life.

When working figuratively, she will chose imagery that will render a glimpse of the people she’s depicting, as to tell a story of an event that took place. For example, in the painting “Wild Animal Trainer”, she’s trying to capture the memory of the Golden Age of the Circus, which was a big event for cities and towns of all sizes.

People would pose in front of the posters advertising the circus coming to their town. “Wild Animal Trainer” thus incorporates the date when she took her son to his first circus.

Juxtaposing people in most common circumstances against intricate and lush backgrounds along with the use of vibrant color is her forte. While the subject is in the forefront, the compositions explore divided surfaces of foliage, slips of fabric, wallpaper, carpet and old buildings. Her paintings are like writing in a journal; they offer a intimate glimpse of the subject rendered.