Shea Caughlin

It’s safe to say that my heart belongs on the West Coast.

I was born in Nova Scotia, grew up in Ontario, spent the majority of my adult life in Alberta, and now for the last two years I’ve been living in beautiful British Columbia. I have been so incredibly inspired by my surroundings in Elk Valley, BC that I had to pick up my paint brush after 15 years and haven't put it down since.

As a self-taught artist, each piece of my work is a step on my journey. Inspired by my adventures in BC, the moody wilderness of the West Coast has pushed my creativity to new heights where I continue to experiment, challenge myself, and find my voice as an artist. 

Although I hadn't pursued art professionally until about a year ago, I always knew I was an artist. Growing up I was always getting lost in my sketchbooks, but it wasn't until moving into the mountains that the way I feel and see my life through art changed. Moving from city to city until now, being able to call the mountains my home, being surrounded by nature all the time, has truly inspired me to start painting and has been a focal point in my current works.  

With oil as my current medium of choice, I work from my home studio, embracing the mountains around me, the ancient old growth forests, and wildlife outside my door. Then I paint. Utilizing the slow drying time of oils, I continuously blend and build layers, block in colour, working in shadows and highlights for hours at a time at my easel.

When it comes to my journey as an artist, it’s all new and it’s all very exciting to watch where it takes me. I have my very first art exhibit right here in Fernie, at the Art Station, featuring my collection When the Sun Goes Down in May. When the sun dips below the mountains, the forest becomes a world of wonder and magic, and I wanted to capture that feeling on canvas. As the light fades, the sky transforms from golden hues to soft ethereal glows from the moonlight. The hidden creatures from the wild west come out from the shadows and stir in the forest. From a small owl’s piercing gaze to the cows grazing, bison marching, and moose roaming from the shadows. This collection is inspired by the beauty and mystery of the forests surrounding my home in the Elk Valley with each piece highlighting the wilderness of the West Coast from dusk to dawn. 

If you are curious about what comes next in this ongoing journey of mine - stay tuned! I promise there is more to my story, and I can only hope my work continues to fill my life with joy and adventure, inviting new people and perspectives into my life, and capture the last bit of the calm, moody, wilderness of the West Coast through each painting. 

So, keep an eye out for me and my work in the valley and follow along on my journey and see my latest paintings @ artistsheacaughlin on Instagram and TikTok, or visit my website at sheacaughlin.ca. I can't wait to share this next chapter with you!