Shannon McWhinney

Shannon McWhinney is a visual artist based in Ucluelet, British Columbia. Drawing inspiration from the wildlife, energy, and coastal landscapes of Canada’s West Coast, she creates expressive paintings that hold the immediacy of fleeting encounters in the natural world. Her work explores connections among land, water, animals, people, and place, translating brief moments of observation into images that feel vivid, intimate, and alive.
Her process often begins with a photograph taken during an unexpected wildlife encounter—while kayaking, paddleboarding, walking forest trails, exploring beaches, or observing animals near her home. The photograph preserves the instant in which the animal was first seen: a glance, a gesture, a shift of light, or a reflection on water. In the studio, McWhinney reimagines that moment through bold colour, layered brushwork, and intuitive mark-making, creating expressive portrayals of otters, herons, bears, deer, and other coastal inhabitants. The animal’s gaze is often central to the composition, drawing the viewer into the original encounter and creating a sense of direct connection. Through this exchange, her paintings invite viewers to pause, look closely, and experience something of the wonder and immediacy she felt when the wildlife was seen and photographed.

Shannon holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Education and has devoted more than 27 years to teaching art. Her practice reflects a lifelong commitment to creative exploration, visual storytelling, and sharing the vitality of the natural world.