About the artist and grower

Selena is a self-taught local artist born and raised in Maple Ridge, B.C. She now resides in Stave Falls, nestled between the lakes and mountains at the north end of Mission, where she keeps busy with her family farm and art studio. Selena’s art practice focuses on fine art in watercolour and woodburning, inspired by nature.

Selena has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Ecology from the University of British Columbia. She is a Registered Professional Biologist, a Professional Agrologist, and a Master Beekeeper. As a biologist, her expertise lies in environmental impact assessment and mitigation for fisheries and wildlife. Her career allows her to combine her love for nature with meaningful work outdoors.

In her personal life, Selena finds joy in gardening, farming lavender, blueberries, and Christmas trees, and caring for her bees. She spends the weekends hiking the mountain trails of Mission and the Coquihalla. Fittingly, her connection to nature is reflected in her name, Selena, which means “the moon,” paired with her middle name, Dawn.

Selena began wood burning around five years ago on a small scale, creating wooden ornaments to decorate jars of honey sold at her Honey Barn Christmas Shop. Her rustic barn, open on weekends in December, quickly became a local favourite. Before long, she expanded her craft to larger wood burnings on driftwood and slabs, often featuring birds, fish, and scenic landscapes. In May 2022, inspired to explore colour, she picked up a set of watercolour paints and became instantly hooked.

Her watercolour landscapes are often inspired by local hikes. Her earliest paintings included Rolley Lake Boardwalk and the Stave Dam Powerhouse in Mission, followed by scenes from Elk Mountain and Lindeman Lake in Chilliwack. With a desire to share her artwork in a meaningful way, Selena created a series of postcards featuring Fraser Valley hiking trails, complete with vintage postcard-style designs and descriptions. She left them along trails for fellow hikers to discover, delighted to see the joy they brought as people shared their finds online.

In 2024, Selena set her sights on publishing a calendar featuring her original watercolour paintings. The project, titled Our Neighborhood—Places We Know in Mission and Maple Ridge, celebrated iconic local landmarks. The cover showcased Ruskin Dam, painted on a vibrant October day, as the Stave River buzzed with fishermen and the maple trees glowed in autumn colours. Other locations included 1st Avenue in downtown Mission, Stave Lake, Whonnock Post Office, Iron Mountain Store, and Hayward Lake. Seeing her community connect with her art, sharing their memories of these places, was a rewarding experience.

Encouraged by the success of her first calendar, Selena released a follow-up in 2025 titled Our Backyard—Hiking the Fraser Valley. This collection features her favourite trails, including the 79 Grind at Stave, Cascade Falls, the Matsqui Trail’s view of the Mission-Abbotsford Bridge, and the stunning vistas of Elk Mountain, Pierce Lake, and Flora Peak in Chilliwack Provincial Park. Sharing the beauty of these trails through her artwork brought joy to both Selena and her fellow hikers.