Lela Shields, who was born and raised in London, attended several fine art institutions before graduating from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1996. She crafts subtle narratives exploring the ultra-fine balance between human, animal and spiritual realms while simultaneously playing with chance, technique and pure imagination. Shields has had solo exhibitions throughout the United States and shown internationally. She relocated to the Bay Area in 2011 currently paints in her studio in West Marin County.