Elly received an honors Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Her work has been showcased in both group and solo shows in Northwest Arkansas and Central Arkansas. Elly has taught throughout the state of Arkansas with students with ages ranging from four to eighty-four. She has almost two decades of teaching experience and has partnered with many different organizations including Crystal Bridges Art Museum, Arkansas Museum of Fine Art, UAMS, and Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas. She is part of the Arkansas Arts Council’s Arts in Education Roster.