Born and raised in Cape Town, Shannan has been actively involved both in the Fine Arts as well as the Film & Commercials Production Industry since graduating with a Bachelor of Technology degree in the Fine Arts, (receiving a few distinctions & a final Cum Laudea. She is currently a Visual Effects Artist & Animator at one of the top Post Production houses in Johannesburg. Creative 'brainstorming' processes such as pre-visualisation / concept art / storyboarding & character design are evident influences in her designs. She has a Diploma in Advanced Character Animation from Animation Mentor (a world- renowned training school based in San Francisco) & has attended the "Gobelins l'école de l'image" Summer School ~ another highly recognised animation school in Paris. She won 1st prize for a Matte Painting created for a South African digital arts challenge.