Shannon Fennell Artist


Get to know the artist



Shannon Fennell, Artist





I'm originally from the west coast of British Columbia, Canada, and started moving east in 2000, living in both Alberta and Ontario. I eventually ended up in the United Kingdom 2021. I now live in Plymouth, England.


As a Multidisciplinary Artist I'll work with almost any media: oils, acrylics, watercolours, pen & ink, pastels, as well as ceramics, sculpting, kiln-fused glass, fibre arts, paper and cloth mache, pyrography, beadwork, printmaking, bookbinding, costume/prop design and construction, make-up, even cake decorating. I'm always looking for new techniques and materials, and like to combine traditional art with craft techniques, recycling, reusing and repurposing almost everything.


Since 2015 I've been dealing with fluctuating visual ability due to retinopathy. I am constantly experimenting with new media and adapting techniques in order to continue creating.





Art was a passion for me right from the beginning but, being a pragmatic type, I pursued a formal education and careers in administration and volunteer management. However I never stopped my artistic explorations and continued creating.


In 2018 I was able to return to school full-time to work towards the formal Fine Arts education I always dreamed of. I graduated in 2021 with an Advanced Diploma (with Honours) in Fine Art from Durham College in Oshawa, Ontario. In 2025 I completed my MA Fine Art at the University of Plymouth in England.


When not busy making art or travelling to see great art around the world, I spend time baking, gardening, walking the dog and reorganizing my art supplies.



Shannon Fennell, Make-Up Artist





I was a professional Make-Up Artist for 25 years, specializing in theatre, special effects and face/body painting. I have a Diploma (with Honours) in Make-Up Artistry from the Blanche Macdonald Institute in Vancouver, BC and trained in Hollywood and Europe.


I've been profiled many times regarding my make-up art in the press (many articles are shared in my Press Gallery) and was the subject of two different television shows featuring local artists. I was interviewed live on-air by BBC Devon in the UK and on Q99 in Grande Prairie, AB. I was featured in and/or contributed to: FACE to FACE Magazine, Art of the Peace Magazine, Face and Body Art Magazine, Illusion Magazine and Face Painting International Magazine.


I'm a sought after instructor and author in the specialty of face painting. My book "Your Face or Mine: A Step-by-step Guide to Basic Face Painting Techniques" was published by Snazaroo USA Inc. in 2007. My e-book "The Business of Face Painting" was released in 2009.





In 2007 I designed and body painted UK based Blues/Roots artist Bex Marshall for the cover of her 2008 album, "Kitchen Table."


I also designed and produced the make-up for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the 2010 Arctic Winter Games, held in Grande Prairie, Alberta, which included creating artwork for temporary tattoos used at the games.


I was privileged to be the lead/key make-up artist on well over 100 theatrical productions - from one person shows to large scale musicals such as Les Miserables. I was active on-stage as well, having played various roles (usually stereotyped as a cranky female of a certain age) and was an avid participant in theatre sports/improv comedy.


In March 2020, I retired from offering personal make-up services, but am still available for instruction/workshops, design and consultation for theatrical and costume events and related projects.




Exhibitions, Shows and Awards





Exhibitions and Shows


2025 Traces & Tides, The Projection Room, Paignton, Devon, UK

2025 Heavy Plant Crossing, MA Fine Art group show, Grow Plymouth, UK

2024 Admixture: A Sum of the Parts, The Ford Studios, Marion, Virginia, USA

2024 Blindsided: My Transition from Visual Artist to Visually Impaired Artist,

Second Year solo MA Show, Plymouth, UK

2023 How did that happen? First Year MA Show, University of Plymouth, UK

2021 Virtual Graduate Show, Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, ON

2021 Annual All-Student Juried Art Exhibit, Station Gallery, Whitby, ON

2021 Dream Logic: 28th Annual Juried Exhibition, Station Gallery, Whitby, ON

2019 Durham College, 360insights Entrepreneurship Centre, Oshawa, ON

2019 Durham College, Fine Art Showcase, Oshawa, ON

2019 Annual All-Student Juried Art Exhibit, Station Gallery, Whitby, ON

2019 Durham College, Site Specific Art, Oshawa, ON

2019 Durham College, Fine Art Showcase, Oshawa, ON

2018 Annual All-Student Juried Art Exhibit, Station Gallery, Whitby, ON

2017 Instructor & Student Show, Centre for Creative Arts, Grande Prairie, AB

2016 20th Anniversary Show, Centre for Creative Arts, Grande Prairie, AB

2014 Wearable Art Show, Centre for Creative Arts, Grande Prairie, AB

2014 The Amber Ball for the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum, Grande Prairie, AB

2013 Wearable Art Show, Centre for Creative Arts, Grande Prairie, AB

2011 Wearable Art Show, Centre for Creative Arts, Grande Prairie, AB





Awards


2020 Durham College In-Course Scholarship for Academic Excellence: Fine Arts -Advanced

2019 Durham College All-Student Juried Art Show, Whitby, ON - Mixed Media Prize

2014 Grande Prairie Live Theatre - Jenny Tetreau Award for Outstanding Long Term Service

2007 US Body Painting Festival, Albuquerque, NM - Second Place Sponge and Brush

2007 UK Face & Body Painting Convention, Bristol, UK - Best Costume

2006 Advanced Face Painter - Level 2, FACE The Face Painting Association, UK

2006 Fantasy Worldwide Facepainting Competition, Putte, Belgium - First Place

2005 UK Face & Body Painting Convention, Telford, UK - International Face Painter of the Year

2005 Snazaroo USA Inc./Snazaroo.com - Top Face Painter in North America

2002-2009 over 70 awards from Snazaroo USA and other organizations for Face Painting

1980 Grand Salon du Culinaire, Washington State Chef's Association - Gold Medal in Gateau



Plymouth, England, United kingdom


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Shannon Fennell Artist