Shelley Lapham (Miss Shelley) is a professional Artist, Elementary Educator, and certified Art Instructor who has taught her fun Creative Art classes for over 15 years! She is well known in NC, SC, and TN for her work with Preschool, Home School, & Elementary Art programs and summer camps. Her Creative Art classes have inspired children and adults on the PGA of America Tour, Charlotte Art League, Smart Toys & Books, Imagination Forest, United Artisans Studio, Blue Grass Elementary, Park Road Montessori, York Prep Academy, the YMCA of Greater Charlotte and East Tennessee, and Michael's Art & Crafts Store. Miss Shelley's Creative Art classes have been voted "Top Fun Things for Kids to do" and featured in several publications including Charlotte's Little One's Magazine, Macaroni Kid, and The Fort Mill & Tega Cay Carolina Town magazines. Shelley's fun and creative classes allow her students the freedom to explore the world of Art while learning new techniques and various mediums under the positive instruction of a caring Instructor. Her mission is to keep art classes affordable and available to anyone who wants to learn and create so they can pass it on to future generations.
Miss Shelley has been very involved with the Arts since she was a young girl. She would spend hours on her sun patio creating and painting and she enjoyed being involved in Music, Theatre, and Art programs while growing up. Over the last 15 years she has studied and taken numerous Art classes and workshops under other professional Artists. Shelley studied Music and Elementary Education in college on a music scholarship and in 1999 she traveled to a small island off the coast of Belize to share her love of music and art with children. After her son Gabe was born, Shelley enjoyed being a Nanny for Michelle Rogers, the owner of Miller Street Dance Academy and she was inspired to start teaching Art and music classes for preschool and elementary age children in Charlotte, NC and Fort Mill, SC. In Fall 2013, she moved to Knoxville, TN to become the Director of Afterschool programs at Blue Grass Elementary for the YMCA of East Tennessee and she currently enjoys teaching Art classes and birthday parties in her studio at Smart Toys & Books and Michael's Arts & Crafts Store, and for the golfers kids on the PGA of America tour.
In her spare time Shelley enjoys traveling, hiking in the mountains with her family, friends, and adorable Australian Lab (Felix). She also enjoys kayaking, photography, playing music, reading, and creating Art! Her favorite styles are colorful Mosaics, Mixed Media and Texture Painting on Canvas. Shelley's unique and creative style of painting have inspired others to pick up a brush and learn something fun!
Miss Shelley has been very involved with the Arts since she was a young girl. She would spend hours on her sun patio creating and painting and she enjoyed being involved in Music, Theatre, and Art programs while growing up. Over the last 15 years she has studied and taken numerous Art classes and workshops under other professional Artists. Shelley studied Music and Elementary Education in college on a music scholarship and in 1999 she traveled to a small island off the coast of Belize to share her love of music and art with children. After her son Gabe was born, Shelley enjoyed being a Nanny for Michelle Rogers, the owner of Miller Street Dance Academy and she was inspired to start teaching Art and music classes for preschool and elementary age children in Charlotte, NC and Fort Mill, SC. In Fall 2013, she moved to Knoxville, TN to become the Director of Afterschool programs at Blue Grass Elementary for the YMCA of East Tennessee and she currently enjoys teaching Art classes and birthday parties in her studio at Smart Toys & Books and Michael's Arts & Crafts Store, and for the golfers kids on the PGA of America tour.
In her spare time Shelley enjoys traveling, hiking in the mountains with her family, friends, and adorable Australian Lab (Felix). She also enjoys kayaking, photography, playing music, reading, and creating Art! Her favorite styles are colorful Mosaics, Mixed Media and Texture Painting on Canvas. Shelley's unique and creative style of painting have inspired others to pick up a brush and learn something fun!
From the Parents!
"My daughter Olivia attended Miss Shelley's Art classes for over three years. I always felt comfortable leaving her with Miss Shelley because she was happy to go there, and because Shelley always has such a cheerful demeanor and it was obvious that she really loves the children she teaches. It was great to know that Olivia was with someone with such a passion for Art, as well as a fun personality. I loved coming to pick my daughter up and watching her with her friends and see the art projects they had made that Miss Shelley is so famous for!" -Lisa G., Mom to Olivia
"Lucy absolutely loved her experience with Miss Shelley in her Art classes! It gave her confidence and opened the door to music and art, which she loves so much. She looked forward to going every week and made lots of friends. As a parent, I really enjoyed the small class sizes and all of the activities. It was a wonderful introduction to the world of Art and I was always impressed with Miss Shelley’s positive energy and interaction with the kids. I would not trade this experience for Lucy for anything!!" -Cathy B., Mom to Lucy
“It's hard to express in words how much we adore Miss Shelley! She is one of those rare individuals who was born to work with children. She is gifted with the ability to effectively communicate with kids on their level - she's teaches them SO many things, but they just think they're having fun! Emily has been attending classes for 3 years and continues to look forward to going, each and every time. Miss Shelley is like a favorite aunt, who doesn't mind if the kids make a mess, just as long as they are having fun - and you know, Shelley is having just as much fun as the kids! Miss Shelley's Art classes are truly one of the best experiences your child will have and there's no better person to care for your children than Shelley. I know that each child she teaches holds a special place in her heart, and she definitely has a special place in ours!” -Jennifer B., Mom to Emily
“When we first moved, we heard all about Miss Shelley and how she's the most amazing Art teacher. I took my once very nervous daughter, Hannah, to her first day of class in hopes to help her overcome her strong attachment to me. Within the first few classes, Hannah was a confident and outgoing little girl. She has learned a GREAT deal of knowledge and I am simply amazed at the level of attention that she and all of the other children in her class received. A million thank you's goes to Shelley for teaching her the importance of being creative!!” -Andrea R., Mom to Hannah and Ella
“I just cannot say enough good things about Miss Shelley and her classes! The love and attention Shelley gives every child is above and beyond what you would see anywhere else. Every week is a new adventure with new themes and new exciting art projects. My son was extremely shy and afraid to be away from me when I first signed him up. Now he can’t wait to go. I truly believe that it was in great part the loving and fun environment that contributed to his now outgoing and gregarious personality. Miss Shelley is absolutely wonderful!!!” -Daniela S., Mommy to Sean
"Miss Shelley is the BEST teacher EVER!!" -Carson (age 8)
"Lucy absolutely loved her experience with Miss Shelley in her Art classes! It gave her confidence and opened the door to music and art, which she loves so much. She looked forward to going every week and made lots of friends. As a parent, I really enjoyed the small class sizes and all of the activities. It was a wonderful introduction to the world of Art and I was always impressed with Miss Shelley’s positive energy and interaction with the kids. I would not trade this experience for Lucy for anything!!" -Cathy B., Mom to Lucy
“It's hard to express in words how much we adore Miss Shelley! She is one of those rare individuals who was born to work with children. She is gifted with the ability to effectively communicate with kids on their level - she's teaches them SO many things, but they just think they're having fun! Emily has been attending classes for 3 years and continues to look forward to going, each and every time. Miss Shelley is like a favorite aunt, who doesn't mind if the kids make a mess, just as long as they are having fun - and you know, Shelley is having just as much fun as the kids! Miss Shelley's Art classes are truly one of the best experiences your child will have and there's no better person to care for your children than Shelley. I know that each child she teaches holds a special place in her heart, and she definitely has a special place in ours!” -Jennifer B., Mom to Emily
“When we first moved, we heard all about Miss Shelley and how she's the most amazing Art teacher. I took my once very nervous daughter, Hannah, to her first day of class in hopes to help her overcome her strong attachment to me. Within the first few classes, Hannah was a confident and outgoing little girl. She has learned a GREAT deal of knowledge and I am simply amazed at the level of attention that she and all of the other children in her class received. A million thank you's goes to Shelley for teaching her the importance of being creative!!” -Andrea R., Mom to Hannah and Ella
“I just cannot say enough good things about Miss Shelley and her classes! The love and attention Shelley gives every child is above and beyond what you would see anywhere else. Every week is a new adventure with new themes and new exciting art projects. My son was extremely shy and afraid to be away from me when I first signed him up. Now he can’t wait to go. I truly believe that it was in great part the loving and fun environment that contributed to his now outgoing and gregarious personality. Miss Shelley is absolutely wonderful!!!” -Daniela S., Mommy to Sean
"Miss Shelley is the BEST teacher EVER!!" -Carson (age 8)
