Melanie's art is a tactile celebration of nature and a fusion of her rich heritage and diverse life experiences. From her formative years in the English countryside to her time living and working in Hong Kong, and now residing in the serene South West of Western Australia, each chapter of her life has added depth and layers to her creative expression—much like the textured materials she works with.
Her work draws inspiration from the landscapes that surround her—from the rolling hills and rugged coastlines of the South West to the diverse flora native to Australia—translating the textures and tones of the natural world into richly layered, mixed-media pieces.
Beginning her artistic journey through textiles, Melanie’s early passion for sewing evolved into an exploration of painting, felting, and, most recently, the incorporation of sculptural elements using natural materials such as dried clay to form gumnuts, and flowers. She also works with freehand machine embroidery, creating intricate stitched artworks that are often sculpted into organic forms like bowls, adding both structure and delicacy to her practice.
These diverse elements bring a dynamic, three-dimensional quality to her work, transforming her deep connection to nature into immersive pieces that invite viewers to engage with the textures, colours, and forms she so thoughtfully portrays.
Working primarily with wool fibres, silk, cotton scrim, dry needle felting and machine embroidery, Melanie builds her pieces through intricate layers and delicate stitching, echoing the complexity and quiet beauty of the environment. Her approach blends traditional techniques with a contemporary sensibility, resulting in artworks that are both sensory and deeply grounded in place.
This year, Melanie was thrilled to be invited to also participate in a collaborative exhibition curated by renowned photographer Christian Fletcher at his Dunsborough gallery—a reflection of her growing recognition within the region’s vibrant arts community.
Melanie’s work is an invitation: to pause, observe, and connect with the natural world through texture, colour, and form.