Shayla Nelson

Shayla Nelson needs almost no introduction in St. Augustine’s art scene. A prominent local musician, Shayla’s artistic prowess far exceeds the limits of what is heard and seen on local stages. “During a middle school art class, a teacher told me I wasn’t very good,” she says. “So, I turned my focus to the art I felt confident with.” When her parents acquired High Tide Gallery in 2023, Shayla’s interest in crafting and visual art began to pique. “I became so inspired by the beauty displayed in the gallery, that I dug my heels into making my jewelry and painting,” she muses. All of Shayla’s artistic mediums are complimentary of each other. “I think about Ann Wilson of Heart and Melissa Etheridge, who made jewelry out of guitar strings,” she says. “I thought that pairing my love for both music and crafting would be a great way to express myself. That is where my guitar pick earrings come in.” While studying abroad in Bulgaria, Shayla serendipitously stumbled across her own signature jewelry design. “It was my first time outside the US. and I had found a random spoon,” she reflects. “It held simplistic beauty and I wanted it to stay with me as a reminder of my precious memories there. So, I made it into a ring.” That once in a lifetime remembrance became the catalyst for her jewelry brand, “Shayla’s Ringtique.” Incorporating a coastal flair into many of her creations, Shayla imparts her ingenuity seamlessly into her role within her family’s gallery. Recently promoted to Gallery Manager, she concludes, “I am excited to continue showcasing our amazing local talent.”