Shirley is based in London (and sometimes, in Oxford) UK. Her childhood was spent in the countryside of Hong Kong, with ten dogs, four cats, wild lizards, geckos, Mimosa Pudica (Sensitive Plants), many crayons and Lego bricks.

She has always drawn and painted for as long as she can remember; one of her earliest childhood memories was sitting at the dining table in her house, sketching on pieces of thin cardboard from various packaging of household products.