There aren’t many people who dare to walk away from a successful career in journalism to try to make their living as a full-time artist. But anyone who loves animals is thrilled that Lynnette Shelley did. 

Shelley, who studied journalism at the University of Delaware and graduated with honors, went on to help edit and design publications like Metro Philadelphia, Club Industry Magazine in Plymouth Meeting, Parents Express in Fort Washington, and the Wilmington DE News Journal. 

But despite her success, she felt that something was missing. So, in 2007 – 11 years after graduating – she decided to walk out on the high wire and leave her position as a graphic designer at Metro Philadelphia to follow her real passion, which was painting animals.

“I've always been drawn to animals, pun not intended,” Shelley told us last week. “I was raised on mythology and fairytales, and animals were always a big part of folklore. I always just liked drawing them as they offer lots of interesting textures, colors and shapes. Take a bird or butterfly. Even if you were only to paint birds or butterflies, there are so many different kinds you can do with different colors and patterns available.”

Growing up, Shelley lived in New Castle, DE, and then Newark, DE. She moved to Mt. Airy in 1999 and opened her art studio in Maple Glen in Upper Dublin Township in 2023.

Shelley gives credit to a high school teacher, Sister Loretta, for igniting her interest in art. 

“She taught a class in which she showed us parts of an Andy Warhol film, 'Blood for Dracula,' so we could see the art direction,” said Shelley. “She also got me my first taste at a juried art show when she entered one of my artworks into a group show at the Delaware Art Museum.”

At 16, Shelley was the youngest person in the show. By the time she was a senior, she was taking AP art classes and scoring at the top of the class on performance tests.  

She is now an award-winning artist and runs a successful business with her art. And while painting is her passion, she said, she winds up spending twice as much time on presenting and marketing her work as she does on actually producing it. 

“I typically work between seven to eight hours on a painting,” she said, “and then when the artwork is finished, there is all the 'after-work' involved: photographing, editing the photos, uploading and editing on the website, uploading and marketing to social media, email blasts, blog posts, and messaging collectors or gallerists if need be. which is why I always laugh when someone tells me at a show that it must be so nice just to paint all day. Painting is probably less than a third of what I do as a small businessperson.”

Given her love of animals, it should come as no surprise that she tries not to eat them. 

“I am not a strict vegetarian, but I do not eat mammals and haven’t since I was 16,” she said.  “I was a stricter vegetarian when I was younger, but at that time it wasn't as popular as it is now, so it was harder to eat well. And I wasn't a good cook and was poor. So I was eating a lot of pasta, bread and cheese. I do appreciate anyone who can be a strict vegetarian or vegan, though.”

In addition to her fine art pursuits, Shelley and her husband, Brandon Lord Ross, are co-founders of The Red Masque, a neo-Goth progressive rock band she has been writing and performing for since 2001. (They have one animal at home, a shaggy black cat rescue named Magnus.)

The Red Masque has played in festivals as far away as Atlanta and clubs and venues all over Philly like the Khyber, J.C. Dobbs, Sedgwick Theater, and Allens Lane Theater. 

The local artist wanted to take this opportunity to thank the local businesses that have helped her along her journey, particularly Borrelli's Gallery & Frame Shop and Artist & Craftsman Supply, both in Chestnut Hill and No Bare Walls Framing Studio in Ambler.

“And I definitely want to mention my parents, Bernard and Mary.” she said, “They always encouraged me with my art. They kept me supplied in Crayola and coloring books when I was a kid and even as an adult have shown their support.”

For more information about upcoming exhibits, including an open house in her studio in December, visit lynnetteshelley.com. Len Lear can be reached at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com