Based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Open to remote and regional opportunities across the UK
Explore my Research Interests: Natural History, Georgian & Tudor eras, Abrahamic religions, and historical fashion. Plus, meet my animal family — Jack, Sally & Lilo!
🌟 About Me 🌟
I'm Shannon, a museum and heritage professional with a deep passion for history, religious studies, and the stories that objects can tell. My journey into the heritage sector has been shaped by curiosity, hands-on experience, and a genuine love for making collections accessible to everyone.
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🎓 I hold a Certificate of Higher Education in History and Religious Studies from the University of Gloucestershire, where I developed my fascination with the Abrahamic faiths, medieval material culture, and the ways religion has shaped societies across time. My academic interests naturally evolved into practical museum work, where I've been fortunate to contribute to exhibitions, digitise collections, and help preserve cultural heritage for future generations.
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💡 Beyond my professional work, I'm drawn to periods and themes that celebrate craftsmanship, identity, and storytelling—from Natural History collections to the elegance of Georgian fashion and architecture, and the religious upheaval of the Tudor era.
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🏡 At home, I share my life with Jack and Sally (my curious Russian tortoises) and Lilo (my vocal French Bulldog), who have taught me patience, observation, and the importance of enrichment—skills that translate surprisingly well into collections care and visitor engagement.
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☠️ I also have a personal natural history collection, where I preserve and prepare specimens using museum-standard techniques, inspired by my childhood fascination with Wollaton Hall, which connects to my professional practice today.
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🐾 Alongside my museum work, I offer pet sitting services in Sheffield via Rover and Cat in a Flat. This role reinforces the same care-based skills essential to heritage work: observation, responsibility, and attention to detail.
This page is a space to explore the interests, experiences, and passions that shape both my professional work and personal curiosity. Whether you're here to learn about my academic background, my love of historical fashion, or my approach to animal care, I hope you'll find something that resonates.
A Lifelong Passion for Natural History 🦌
My fascination with museum collections began with childhood visits to Wollaton Hall and Deer Park, which sparked my deep interest in museums and natural history collections. This passion extends to my personal practice: curating and preserving a growing collection of animal bones and insects, which I source, clean, and pin myself. Applying the same preservation techniques used in professional natural history archives.
🎨 I have developed artistic skills in scientific illustration, creating detailed line art of animal skulls, which demonstrates my ability to combine scientific accuracy with visual communication — a valuable skill in museum interpretation and educational materials. Animals and their anatomy have been a key inspiration behind all of my tattoos, including the full animal-themed sleeve I’m currently designing. The first draft is entirely my own creation, blending my passion for wildlife and taxidermy with personal artistic expression.
💀 With a unique combination of academic knowledge, practical preservation experience, and authentic enthusiasm for natural history collections, I am well-positioned to contribute meaningfully to museum environments and heritage organisations.
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My Fondness for the Georgian Era 🎀
My fascination with the Georgian era began in childhood and has grown into a genuine passion for the period's monarchy, religious history, fashion, and architecture.The era’s elegance, order, and expressive visual culture continue to inspire my historical interests and creative pursuits.
👗 I’m especially drawn to the craftsmanship and symbolism of Georgian upper-class fashion — from embroidered waistcoats and powdered wigs to corsetry, silks, and mourning attire. These garments served not only as indicators of wealth and class, but also as visual markers of political allegiance and religious identity.
👔 To deepen my understanding, I completed an online course called A History of Royal Fashion, with the University of Glasgow and Historic Royal Palaces, which explored how royal and ceremonial fashion evolved from the Tudors to the Windsors. As well as its care within archives today.
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George I
George II
George III
George IV
Sake Dean Mahomed
👗🤴🏻🎀
My Love of the Tudor Period 👑
My love for the Tudor era began in Primary School and continued to flourish throughout my academic journey, especially during my GCSE studies. This period remains one of the most captivating chapters of English history for me, full of religious upheaval, political intrigue, and striking material culture.
✝️ I’m particularly fascinated by the religious transformations that took place from Henry VII’s consolidation of power to Elizabeth I’s religious settlement. The shifting landscape of English Christianity — from Henry VIII’s break with Rome, through Mary I’s Catholic revival, to Elizabeth’s Protestant compromise — highlights the profound impact of monarchy on faith and society.
⛪️ My interest also extends to the fashion and architecture of the era, with a particular fondness for the ornamental ruffs. And with a special curiosity about Priest Holes — the hidden chambers used to shelter Catholic clergy during Elizabeth I’s reign. These architectural features represent the tension and fear that accompanied the era’s religious rebellions and persecution.
Edward VI
Mary I
Lady Jane Grey
King Philip II of Spain
Elizabeth I
William Shakespeare
Mary Queen of Scots
Henry VII
Henry VIII
Anne of Cleves
John Blanke
👸✝️🪓
My Journey Through Religion & Theological Study 📖
My interest in religion and theology has been a lifelong one, shaped by curiosity, compassion, and a deep respect for belief systems throughout history. From an early age, I was drawn to the way religion shapes people’s identities, values, and cultures — a fascination that grew through my academic studies in Religious Studies, Philosophy, and Ethics.
✝️ I’m particularly passionate about the Abrahamic faiths, especially Christianity and its development and similarities across different eras. From medieval theology and monastic life to the Reformation and the English religious settlements. I love exploring how belief, power, and tradition intertwine in both sacred texts and lived experience. One of my undergraduate papers focused on the traditions and beliefs of Jesus across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
🗣️ My academic journey has allowed me to examine everything from ethical debates and philosophical arguments for the existence of God. To the everyday impact of faith, ritual, and spiritual practice. I’ve especially enjoyed researching religious change during the Tudor era, and the symbolism found in religious artefacts and material culture.
☸️🕉️✡️✝️☪️🪯
Threads Through Time: A Love for Fashion History 🪡
My love for fashion history is rooted in its ability to reflect identity, power, culture, and social change across time. I’m especially drawn to the elegance and drama of historical dress, from courtly extravagance to traditional attire — each era and culture telling its own visual story.
👑 I'm captivated by the theatricality of Georgian fashion, particularly the extra-wide pannier dresses, structured stays, and the charm of puff sleeves. I adore the ponytail hairstyles of George the third's reign, which reflect the polished formality of 18th-century society. My interest also stretches back to medieval fashion, with its flowing gowns and long sleeves, and to the sculptural ruffs of the Elizabethan court, which symbolised power and status.
🥻I’m equally inspired by the beauty and diversity of South Asian fashion, especially saris — their vibrant colours, luxurious fabrics, and the way their styling changes depending on the occasion or region. I find henna body art incredibly beautiful; the intricate patterns and symbolism used in mehndi traditions are a stunning form of wearable art.
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George III
Princess Diana's Wedding Dress
Prince Philip IV of Spain
Miguel Soplillo
Princess Margaret's Dress
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Life with Jack, Sally & Lilo 🐢🐢🐕
Outside of my academic and professional life, I care for a small but lively animal family.
🐢 Jack and Sally, my Russian/Horsefield tortoises, were adopted at two years old in 2017. Named after characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas (my favourite film). Jack is curious and affectionate, while Sally is cautious but bold.
🐕 Lilo, my affectionate and loud French Bulldog. Named after a childhood favourite, Lilo & Stitch, has taught me so much about dog care, enrichment, and senior pet support, since we brought her home at two months old in 2018.
🌟 Their unique personalities have sparked my passion for animal care, behaviour, and enrichment—fuelling my creativity and deepening my commitment to animal welfare and natural history collections.
🌈 In loving memory of Holly, Milly, and Lilly.
Jack
Holly
Sally
Milly
Lilo
Lilly
🐢🐢🐕 -🌈🐰🐹🐹
Pet Sitting Services 🐾
(Sheffield Area only)
In addition to my heritage work, I offer professional pet sitting services that draw on the same care-based skills I utilise in museums.
Professional, personalised, and reliable care tailored to your pets’ unique needs — from everyday routines to companionship and enrichment.
Rover 🐕🐈⬛
Dogs & Cats Visit and Care Options
Cat in a Flat 🐾
Cats, Birds, Rabbits, Rodents, Reptiles, Fish, and Insects - Happy to discuss other companion animals
5 star rating on Rover ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Reviews
Anya, Kiki & Patrick
Gurty & Harley
Poppy
💡 What I Offer
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Free Meet & Greet: Every booking includes a complimentary visit to understand your pet’s needs and routines, and to give you the chance to ask questions or share any concerns.
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Peace of Mind: I hold a Basic DBS Certificate for security and peace of mind.
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Professional Reliability: All bookings are managed through Rover or Cat in a Flat, ensuring safe and transparent arrangements.
🔗 Connecting to My Career - My pet sitting work reflects the same transferable skills I apply in the museum and heritage sector:
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Observation & Detail: Noticing subtle behavioural or environmental changes mirrors my curatorial attention to detail.
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Care & Responsibility: Just as collections require thoughtful handling, so do pets — consistency builds trust.
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Communication & Engagement: Regular updates for pet owners parallel my audience-focused approach in museum work.
This work highlights how professional care extends across both living animals and cultural collections, strengthening my broader portfolio in collections management, public trust, and responsibility.
💬 Read more about my connection with animal care to museum practice:
💬 Want to see more about my approach to animal care? Read my Pet Care Diaries, where I share experiences looking after a variety of companions, from tortoises to dogs. (linked below)
📩 Ready to Book or Have Questions?
Let’s chat about your pets’ needs and create a tailored package that works for you.
Slyder
Boots
George
Ollie & Alfie
