Shirley Babcock was born in B.C. She lived throughout BC from Vancouver Island, Lower Mainland, Cariboo, Okanagan, Central BC and Northern BC. She became interested in Art after researching the history and culture of her ancestors through books, museum, websites and relatives. She started painting as a hobby in 2005. Her ancestry came from the Kwakwaka'wakw peoples also known as Kwakitul and Kwagiulth. (Musgamagw/Dzawada'enuxw First Nation) located in the Kongcome Inlet & Alert Bay area in BC off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island. Although Shirley created her own style using variations, she uses the basic forms passed down through generations of her ancestors of the Mid Coast art style.