Arlene Cassidy has had an artistic inclination her whole life. As a child, she filled many doodle pads with drawings of fairy tales featuring princesses in glorious outfits. In high school, she produced paintings of females in magical states. Based on these paintings, Arlene was accepted into the Fine Arts program at York University.

During this time, Arlene married her high school boyfriend and had a son. She took a year off university to be a full-time mom and then returned part-time to continue her education. Arlene graduated with a Fine Arts degree in 1985. Following this, she worked as a waitress and in an art supply store for several years. She decided to go to Queens University to get her teaching degree and after graduating in 1988, Arlene accepted a full time job at the Regional Treatment Centre at Kingston Penitentiary as an arts and crafts instructor.

Arlene held this job for 14 years while raising her son, creating and developing her own art whenever she could find the time. She also traveled to Mexico for two winters to work on various projects. In 2003 Arlene was hired to manage an educational program in Kinston to develop skills and experience for troubled youth. After completion of this program in 2004, Arlene now devotes herself full-time to her art.