Born July 17, 1977 in West Valley City Utah, raised in Taylorsville a suburb in the middle of the Salt Lake Valley, Shea grew up dreaming of being an artist. He continually taught himself from instructional books and by enrolling in classes at the nearby art store. In High School Shea was introduced to the Graphic Arts and there developed an interest in type and visual communication, which later would become a major influence in his work. And while he always wanted to become an artist, he didn't study art initially when he first enrolled in college, but instead spent years studying philosophy and psychology. It wasn't until his fourth year in college he decided to change his major to Fine Art and study at the University of Utah. In so doing he was able to obtain a dual emphasis and studied both Graphic Design and Painting, working under John Erickson, MacRay Magleby, Tom Hoffman, Brad Slaugh, Dung Hoang and others, obtaining a BFA from the University of Utah in 2004.
Upon graduation, Shea went to work as a Graphic Designer in Salt Lake City, continuing his painting at home at night after his kids went to bed. Shea loved his work as a Designer and the people he worked with. After much thought and consideration he with his family decided to move to Cache Valley in early 2008 to focus on his painting. Shea currently resides in Logan, paints, and lives with his wife and two children, devoting his time to exploring what paint can do and growing as an artist.
