Melicka Ghafouri, 21, can spend up to 300 hours creating a project in her studio at home in Coventry.
Since turning her passion into a full-time job, she has created designs for YouTubers and exhibited in Paris.
She has custom designed more than 100 pairs of trainers including some for US rapper Iann Dior and Yungblud.
Melicka said she received messages daily from people celebrating her work.
"I really am grateful that I have an audience that supports me," she said.
She taught herself how to paint on trainers by watching YouTube videos and purchasing a starter pack of leather paint.
"I just liked the idea of people wearing my art - I thought 'maybe I can work hard and make it a living,'" she said.
She turned a Nike Airforce 1 trainer into a model of an ambulance, named 'Airforce 111', with flashing lights, moving wheels and tiny side mirrors.
Videos documenting the creation of the ambulance modelwent viral as Melicka drilled into the shoes and attached a speaker inside which plays a siren sound.
Some commenters questioned why she was making it - others mocked her use of power tools as a woman.
"It was the first time I got hate, but I really enjoyed it because it means it was being seen by different people," she said.
One of Melicka's first designs, called Mibraine, was featured in an exhibition at the Galerie Sakura in Paris.
She flew to Paris after the exhibition to buy back her work because she realised how personal the piece was.
Melicka studied economics at the University College London (UCL) before leaving her course to fulfil her dreams as an artist.
She turned a trainer into a multi-storey apartment block for London brand Notwoways, which was founded by YouTube star Callum McGinley, also known as Callux.
The project, called Sole Storey, features a swimming pool, a 'zen' garden with plants and stairs to each floor inside the Notwoways shoe box.
In the future, Melicka plans to work with more brands to create marketing campaigns and sculptures for stores.
She also hopes to open pop-up shops around the UK to sell her clothing designs and meet people.
"The fact I get to make art for people who really love it and have such great conversations with people who wear my work is really nice."
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A sculpture artist who turns trainers into everything from ambulances to apartment blocks has racked up more than 40m views on TikTok and Instagram.