Illustrator | Photographer
Awards
- John Brown University Illustrator of the Year 2024-2025
- John Brown University 2025 Student Works Show 1st place in Fine Art
- John Brown University 2025 Student Works Show 3rd place in Photography
- iJungle Illustration Awards 2025, Merit Award
- John Brown University Illustrator of the Year 2023-2024
- John Brown University Student Works Show 2024, 1st place in Illustration.
- John Brown University Student Works Show 2023, 2nd place in Illustration
- John Brown University Student Works Show 2023, 3rd place in Illustration
- John Brown University Student Works Show 2023, 3rd place in Fine Art
- SIGMA Photo 60th Anniversary Photography Competition Winner, 2022
- John Brown University Student Works Show 2022, Best in Show
- John Brown University Student Works Show 2022, 2nd place in Photography
- UIL Texas State Champion 2019, Costume Design.
- Visual Arts Scholastic Event 2019 State Advancer
- Dogwood Music and Arts Festival Art Competition 2019, Best in Show
- John Brown University Illustrator of the Year 2024-2025
- John Brown University 2025 Student Works Show 1st place in Fine Art
- John Brown University 2025 Student Works Show 3rd place in Photography
- iJungle Illustration Awards 2025, Merit Award
- John Brown University Illustrator of the Year 2023-2024
- John Brown University Student Works Show 2024, 1st place in Illustration.
- John Brown University Student Works Show 2023, 2nd place in Illustration
- John Brown University Student Works Show 2023, 3rd place in Illustration
- John Brown University Student Works Show 2023, 3rd place in Fine Art
- SIGMA Photo 60th Anniversary Photography Competition Winner, 2022
- John Brown University Student Works Show 2022, Best in Show
- John Brown University Student Works Show 2022, 2nd place in Photography
- UIL Texas State Champion 2019, Costume Design.
- Visual Arts Scholastic Event 2019 State Advancer
- Dogwood Music and Arts Festival Art Competition 2019, Best in Show
Shelby Renee Brewer
Since her birth in 2002, East Texan-raised Shelby Brewer explored every form of creativity she could imagine. From making a paper rose dress for herself in kindergarten to carefully sculpting cheekbones in her Play-Doh sculpture, the young child never stopped creating. And nothing has changed.
At a young age, Shelby’s entrepreneurial spirit led her to start a business on a shoe rack outside her bedroom door called “SSCRRB,” pronounced “Scurb.” The business, named after the initials of her best friends at the time, sold crocheted bookmarks, drawings, and whatever crafted invention she came up with.
As she entered intermediate and middle school, her confidence in her drawing abilities declined as she saw the skillful art her friends were making. But, instead of being defeated by their skill, she learned from them, and finally, in seventh grade, she considered herself an artist for the first time. Crafting cartoonish characters, Shelby discovered a unique, yet untrained, style of art.
In high school, Shelby took her first art classes and dedicated herself to improving her skills. Her dedication led to accomplishments such as winning Best in Show at the 2019 Dogwood Festival Music and Arts competition, being the first person to advance to state in the Visual Arts Scholastic Event in the history of her school, and being a State Champion for the UIL Theatrical Design: Costume Design competition in 2019.
On the brink of 2021, her senior year of high school, Shelby made a resolution to “get better at photography.” So, she dug out her mom’s old Canon Rebel and began shooting with no knowledge of what she was doing.
She decided to attend John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, to study Art & Illustration after falling in love with the school upon visiting it days before COVID-19 hit the United States. When signing up for her major, she was required to pick a minor. She picked Photography just as a filler, and she planned to go back and change it when she decided what she wanted to minor in. Upon receiving her recommended schedule, Intro to Photo was on the list, and on a whim, she decided to keep it there.
Knowing nothing of photography, Shelby immediately fell in love with it upon taking the class and quickly became a double major in both Art & Illustration and Photography. After encouragement from the professor, Shelby entered the SIGMA 60th Anniversary Scholarship Competition for undergraduate and graduate photography students. February of 2022, a little over one year since she first decided to learn about photography, she won the competition in the “Authenticity” category.
Since then, Shelby has won many awards at her school, such as a multiple-time winner of 1st place in Illustration, multiple-time winner of 1st place in Fine Art, and Best in Show at John Brown University’s Student Works Show, along with John Brown University’s 2024 and 2025 Illustrator of the Year.
In November 2024, Shelby opened her first art show, “Biscuit Jar” featuring 22 illustrations and 18 cyanotypes.
Shelby plans to graduate from John Brown University in May 2025.