In 1986, Shelley graduated from Hendrix College with a B. A. Degree in Humanities with an emphasis in Art and went on to pursue an Associate Degree in Interior Design from the Harrington Institute of Design in Chicago.  During her six years in Chicago, she combined her fine arts background with her education in architectural interiors and worked as a designer at the architectural firm, Perkins + Will.  Creating architectural renderings for the interiors department was her specialty.  Since returning to Arkansas, Shelley has established herself as a full-time artist - working primarily in acrylics - but also in  pastels, oils, and mixed media.  

Shelley is currently a managing partner and gallery artist at the Art Group Gallery in Little Rock, Arkansas. She is a member of the Arkansas League of Arkansas and the Arkansas Pastel Society.  

Shelley's paintings have been juried into the 2015, 2017, and 2019  Reflections in Pastel national exhibitions sponsored by Arkansas Pastel Society, as well as the APS Members Only Juried Shows in recent years, In 2018, she received a first place award in the APS Members Juried Exhibit. Her acrylic painting, Windows to the Soul - Chimpanzee, was selected for inclusion in the book, AcrylicWorks 5, The Best of Acrylic Painting, which was published by North Light Books in 2018.  In 2020, her acrylic painting, Choices, was selected for inclusion in the National Oil and Acrylics Society's International Spring Exhibition.  

Shelley's art is currently available for purchase through the Art Group Gallery ( www.artgrouparkansas.com ) in Little Rock, as well as through her personal studio.  

Art has enriched my life, all my life, and I am grateful for the experience of creating and sharing it with others.  -Shelley Gentry