"Fabian" Shelley Lynn Doles IV, was born in Hampton, VA in 1963. He recieved his first commision for a painting when he was twelve. In his senior year in high school he took several art courses and recieved several awards and honorable mentions in art competitions. At this time he was also involved in the school choir and achieved 13th Chair as 1st Tenor in the Arkansas State Choir competition. He is an autodidactic musician and plays acoustic guitar and key boards.

He began to study fine arts at Arkansas Tech University, but after his participation in a semester exchange program with Westfield State Colledge in Massachusetts, he changed his major to art history (with minors in: business, fine arts and archeaology). He was involved in several archeaological excavations in Arkansas. He then applied and was accepted to the American University in Paris, France.

In Paris he became active in the university´s student magazine and the following semester was hired as art director of a team of 15 students and professors. At that time he also became involved in student politics and was elected senior class president. He received his B.A. Degree in art history in 1988 .