A journey through nature,
and textural art
Melanie is a Busselton-based mixed media artist whose work is a tactile celebration of the natural world. Her richly layered pieces are inspired by the striking beauty of the South West region of Western Australia, where she now lives and creates.
Born in England, Melanie spent her early childhood in the countryside before moving to Hong Kong with her family at the age of ten. The contrast between rural England and the fast-paced energy of Hong Kong sparked a lifelong curiosity and drive that would later feed into her creative work. After years of travel and exploration, she eventually settled in the South West of Western Australia with her husband, where they raised their three children. Surrounded by rugged coastlines and distinctive native flora, Melanie found a landscape rich in inspiration—one that continues to shape the layered, tactile nature of her art.
Over the years, Melanie’s work has gained increasing recognition within the region’s vibrant arts community. In 2024, she exhibited widely, received a Highly Commended award, and was awarded Second Place in Textile Arts at a regional art show. This year, she is honoured to be invited to participate in a collaborative exhibition curated by renowned photographer Christian Fletcher at his Dunsborough gallery—an exciting milestone in her evolving artistic journey.
In addition to her creative practice, Melanie now serves on the board of Margaret River Region Open Studios, reflecting her growing role in supporting the local arts landscape.
Creative Expression
Melanie's artistic journey began with a love of textiles. Sewing was her first creative outlet—an early passion that led her to explore various forms of making. Over the years, she transitioned from traditional needlework to painting with acrylics and watercolour, and eventually discovered dry needle felting during a visit to the UK. This discovery marked a pivotal shift, introducing a new dimension of texture and depth to her art.
Her process now blends freehand machine embroidery, painting, dry needle felting, and sculptural elements into cohesive mixed media pieces. Working primarily with wool fibres, silk, cotton scrim, and natural materials such as dried clay (used to form delicate gumnuts and flowers), Melanie builds her work in intricate layers. Her pieces often evolve into organic sculptural forms—such as hand-stitched bowls—that reflect the contours and rhythms of the natural world.
Melanie’s style is defined by a sensitivity to texture, colour, and form. Each artwork is a quiet tribute to nature’s complexity, echoing the tones and shapes of native flora, rolling hills, and coastal landscapes.
Learn more about Melanie
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My creative process varies depending on the type of artwork I'm creating. If I'm doing freehand machine embroidery, I choose different fabrics, threads, and mediums suited for that particular piece. For mixed media projects, I sometimes begin by painting a fabric base with watercolours and build from there using textiles and stitchery. Each step is guided by the unique requirements of the artwork and my creative vision at that moment.
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Travelling has had a big impact on my art. Seeing so many wonders of the world up close has been amazing. I’m always fascinated by the different colours I find in just one leaf or flower, the various shades of the sea, or even the unexpected colours and texture in a field and even my own backyard paddock. These experiences really inspire my work and help me bring more diversity and detail to my art.
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Last year (2023) was my first time participating in the Margaret River Region Open Studios, and I decided to create a large piece as a community project to gift to a local charity.
It ended up raising money for the charity and is now hanging in the Busselton Hilton Hotel.
This needle-felted piece of the Busselton Jetty really brought a sense of community to my studio during my inaugural year. Many people came in to "have a go" at the piece, and we even had a young gentleman come in with his carer two or three times because he enjoyed it so much. I’m hoping he’ll come back this year.
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I've always wanted to paint since I was a little girl. There were three things I dreamed of doing when I grew up: getting married and having children, driving a red convertible with my long blonde hair blowing in the wind, and being able to paint a picture.
It wasn't until I moved to Busselton 13 years ago that I really pursued painting. I went to the local Busselton Art Society with a friend's daughter who was taking a "Painting for Dummies" class. The class was run by a wonderful lady named Lynn Holden. She was a straight-talker and a gifted artist. Over the next two years, she worked her magic trying to teach me perspective and how to paint according to the rules. But if you know me, you'll know I'm not very good at following rules. I like to push boundaries, question things, and experiment. Just because famous artists and teachers say you have to use a certain brush for a certain technique doesn't mean you actually have to do it.
I continued with art on and off and even ran a local craft group for 10 years. This group was full of amazing ladies with a wealth of knowledge. While my children were small, I didn't have much time for art. It wasn't until I returned to the UK with my family in 2019 that I really pursued my longing for creativity. I bought a small needle felting kit at a local craft market and never looked back. I love creating with felt, mainly dry needle felting, but recently I've tried wet felting too. I enjoy incorporating as many elements as possible into one piece, including textiles, stitchery, painting, and embroidery.
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I hope my art inspires people to chase their own creative dreams. There are many things that over-fill our days, but if you can begin by finding even just 10 minutes to lose yourself in something creative—whether it's music, pottery, colouring, gardening, or stitching—it can be incredibly fulfilling.
We're creative beings living in an amazing, created world. Take the time to slow down and really look at the details around you, like a raindrop on a leaf, a spider’s web glistening in the moonlight, or how a bee enters and leaves a flower.
The world we live in is truly amazing! If my work helps you discover and appreciate these little wonders, then I would be thrilled.
The Studio
Melanie’s purpose-built studio is nestled among the gum trees on her semi-rural property near Busselton. With filtered afternoon sunlight pouring through the windows and shelves lined with thread, fibres, silk, and natural finds, the space hums with creativity. It is here, surrounded by the textures and colours of the Australian bush, that Melanie transforms her inspirations into immersive artworks.
The studio garden, full of native flora, offers daily encounters with the very environment that fuels her creativity. These surroundings are not just a backdrop but an essential element of her practice, grounding her work in a strong sense of place. Melanie’s favourite pieces often depict serene seascapes, abstracted bush scenes, and intricately rendered botanical forms—all inviting viewers to pause, observe, and reconnect with the natural world.
Melanie loves to welcome visitors!
You will find her original artworks and quality prints available for purchase, offering a tangible connection to her creative world.
Experience the inspiration, creativity, and warmth that fill her artistic haven.
