Sheila Evans

Born in Long Beach, California, Sheila Evans is a fine artist residing in the Pacific Northwest. After earning a bachelor’s degree in fine art from Gonzaga University in 1988 and a stint as a graphic designer, Evans began her fine art career working primarily in pastel, with which she achieved international recognition through art exhibits and publications. After years of exclusive work in pastel, she began painting in oil, expanding her subject matter to feature birds in addition to her original botanical work. In 2016, she added kiln-fired enamel on metals to her repertoire. An avid birder, Sheila takes her own reference photos for her artwork.

In 2024, ArtsWA and Fircrest Residential Nursing Facility chose Sheila to produce a large-scale public art commission in enamel on steel panels, scheduled for installation in 2027. In addition to her public art endeavors, she shows her paintings and enamels in galleries and fine art fairs throughout the West Coast. Recent solo exhibitions include Aviary at the Northwest Museum of Art and Culture, Of Least Concern at Kolva-Sullivan Gallery, and Cultivation at The Art Spirit Gallery. Sheila’s work has featured in publications including Pratique des Arts (France), American Art Collector, The Pastel Journal, and several art collection books. Her artworks are included in the permanent collections of the Northwest Museum of Art and Culture, Musée de Pastel – Mairie de Saint-Aulaye, the ArtsWA Washington State Art Collection, the Spokane Public Library Portable Works Collection, Providence, Kadlec Medical Center, Group Health, Rockwood Clinic, and WSU Spokane. She is a 2025 GAP grant recipient.

Headshot: Ellen Postlewait