Chantelle Trainor-Matties is an Indigenous artist with Nisga’a and Métis ancestry specializing in illustration, graphic design, and painting. Through her small business Frettchan Studios, she works for herself as a freelancer and contractor for private and commercial clientele.
Spotlight: Chantelle Trainor-Matties
“I live and work on the unceded territory of the Sto:lo Nation,” Chantelle shares. A hobbyist for years, she adds “I officially started my business in 2019” with a smile as contagious as her artwork.
“I’ve been studying and practicing Indigenous art for four years and not only has it been a huge part of my journey to reclaim my heritage, but it’s opened a lot of doors in the art world for me as well. I’ve been able to be a part of so many amazing events and one of my biggest accomplishments was having one of my designs licensed for the 2019 and 2021 Pink Shirt Day by two different companies, Nations Creations and Leading Edge Promo respectively, raising thousands of dollars for at-risk Indigenous youth.”
When you ask Chantelle Trainor-Matties about who has supported her the most on her path to her goals and dreams, she answers her husband, Joshua Trainor-Matties. Most importantly, he’s been right by her side through the whole journey. “Having my husband as a helping hand and support system along the way has been a blessing.”
Prior to launching her art career, Chantelle worked a variety of jobs and did artwork for fun on the side. In 2017, she started art school at the University of the Fraser Valley to see where her passion would take her. Since then, she completed her courses in 2019 and graduated with the class of 2020. Subsequently, she has made the transition to working for herself!
Where to Find Chantelle's Artwork
Currently, she is the founder of Frettchan Studios and lives in Abbotsford, BC. She has products such as prints and merchandise available on her website and she’s looking to expand her online shop. Furthermore, Chantelle is available for hire as a graphic designer, painter (for custom commissions), mural artist, and illustrator!
Shop First Nations first collaborated with Chantelle as the featured Indigenous artist in our Winter 2020 Indigenous gift box. After that, we just clicked so we brought her onto our Digital Services team as a freelance graphic designer and photographer. Next, she got the exact feel of what we were looking for in our Wolf logo, pictured right. As a result, we were very pleased with the bold and strong nature of Chantelles artwork. “Gibuu is the Nisga’a word for wolf. The wolf shows us strength in numbers and to work together!”
In addition to her other skills, Chantelle is an accomplished muralist. Recently, she completed a massive mural (shown below) for the Chilliwack mural festival.
When people have an emotional reaction to my work it's one of the biggest compliments. I had a vinyl mural installed in Downtown Chilliwack and someone took the time to write me a message telling me that it brought them to tears. I hope to have many more opportunities to evoke emotion from the people who view my work.
What the Future Holds for Chantelle
Chantelle is positive about her future as an Indigenous artist. Her hope is to be able to continue working for herself and find incredible opportunities to share her artwork in different ways. In addition, she hopes to work on more original paintings, paint every city with murals, collaborate with more companies or brands on exciting projects, and continue to explore her Indigenous heritage.
Some dreams of mine as an artist are to publish my own children’s books based on the lives of my late ferret companions as well as have the time to work on a series of paintings on the Mustelid family and have a grand solo exhibit.
Chantelle, with that passion and self awareness, you will be able to reach all of your business goals! Thanks for being an inspiration!
