Mellissa was born in England and as a child emigrated to Australia with her family. Having lived in Melbourne, Canberra, Townsville, and Darwin, she now lives by the Hawkesbury River north of Sydney.
Since the 90’s she has continuously studied and practised painting and printmaking honing her art to vibrant optimistic harmony with the natural landscape. The recipient of many Australian art prizes, Mellissa’s style is distinctive with her electric palette and layered application of brush strokes.
Mellissa’s paintings have evolved into her “macropointilist” style celebrating the shape, colour and brushstroke of contemporary impressionism. These characteristics come together presenting unique representations sought after by both Australian and international collectors alike.
“The process of painting is joy for me. Florals and landscapes are all around us and with them I never have to struggle for inspiration. I invite the viewer into my world to see contemporary scenes in rich optical mixes of brushstroke and hue.”
Selected Recent Exhibitions
2022 Solo “Picturesque” Artshine Gallery, Pyrmont
Solo show “Avian” Purple Noon Gallery
Finalist 9x5 Landscape show, WWAS
Finalist John Copes Portrait Prize, Bowral
2021 Group show “Summer” Gang Gang Gallery, Lithgow
Duo Show with Julie Simmons “Tumbledown” ARO Gallery Darlinghurst
2020 Group show “Landlines” Rochfort Gallery North Sydney
Solo show “Flight of Fancy” Purple Noon Gallery, Freemans Reach NSW
Solo show “Between Earth and Sky” Humble House Gallery, Canberra ACT
2019 Duo show “Jewels of the Earth” Galleryone88 Katoomba with Penelope Oates
Duo show with Julie Simmons, Balmain Space
Group Shows 19 Karen Contemp Artspace Gold Coast, Rochfort Gallery North Sydney
Gang Gang Gallery Lithgow, ARO Gallery, Darlinghurst
2018 Solo Show “Set in Place” Purple Noon Gallery, Freemans Reach
Solo Show “Polychromy” Hawkesbury Regional Gallery
Group Shows “Land & Sea”, “Petals & Pods”, “Whimsy” Rochfort Gallery
2017 Solo Show “Also A Printmaker” Breathing Colours, Balmain
Solo “Verdance” 19Karen Contemporary Art Space, Gold Coast
2016 Finalist, Flanagan
Finalist, Corangamarah
Finalist Lethbridge 10000
Finalist, Fleurieu Food & Wine Art Prize
Solo Show “Kaleidoscope Purple Noon Gallery, Freemans Reach NSW
Duo show “Duet” Dank St Gallery
2015 Finalist Eutick Memorial Still Life Award, Coffs Harbour
Finalist Fishers Ghost Art Award
“The Kangaroos Visit”, Rome, Italy
“From The Knife’s Edge” Sassafras Creek Gallery, Kurrajong
“Mergence” Gaffa Gallery, Sydney
Solo Show “Birdsong” Breathing Colours, Balmain
Invited artist, Hawkesbury Art Fair, Hawkesbury Regional Gallery
Publications
Artists Palette #120 April 2013 Australian Artist Magazine #235 Jan 2004 Baren (USA) Calender 2004
Blue Mountains Life November 2016 Australian Artist Magazine September 2017
Public Collections
1st Armoured Regiment, Darwin
The Australian Print Collection of the Wagga Wagga Regional Art Gallery, NSW, Australia
Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, USA, Oregon State University, USA
Westmead Hospital, Sydney
Awards
2022 Finalist 9x5 Landscape Waverley Woollahra, Finalist Portrait Prize Bowral
2021 Finalist Lethbridge 20000
2019 Highly Commended, Medal of Distinction - Royal Art Society NSW
2018 2nd Prize Singleton Art Prize – Still Life
2017 Finalist Blacktown Art Prize
2016 Best in Show Hunter Valley Grammar Art,1st Prize (Still Life)
Finalist Lethbridge 10000, Fleurieu Food & Wine Art Prize, Flanagan & Corangamarah
2015 Finalist Eutick Memorial Still Life Award, Coffs Harbour, Finalist Fishers Ghost (Open)
2014 Finalist Paddington Art Prize, Stanthorpe Art Prize
Highly Commended Camberwell Art Show
2013 Finalist, The Flanagan Art Prize, Northbridge Art Prize, Hawkesbury
1st Prize (Portraits) Drummoyne Art Exhibition, 1st Prize (Still Life) Singleton Art Show
1st Prize Royal Canberra Show
2012 1st Prize Pirtek Still Life Award, Bowral
Finalist Kogarah Art Prize (Packers Room Prize)
Finalist Mount Eyre Art Prize, Norvill Art Prize
1st Prize Camden Art Prize, 3rd Prize Royal Easter Show, 1st Prize Port Stephens
2011 Finalist Eutick Memorial Still Life Awards, Coffs Harbour
Finalist (Highly Commended) Northbridge Art Prize
Finalist Prometheus Visual Arts Award
Finalist Westmead Art Prize
2010 Finalist Norvill Art Prize, Redland Art Awards
2008 1st Prize Port Macquarie