Melanie Harvey - 2024

Melanie was born and grew up in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire. She then lived locally in Kimpton and Whitwell for some time, knowing the Ayot St. Lawrence area since childhood. She now lives in nearby Bedfordshire. Most of her working career has been in IT and related areas, which contrasts with her creative side. She is self-taught and paints primarily in oils, and has earned several awards since starting in late 2017.

Throughout her life she has maintained a passion for nature and the beauty surrounding us, so often overlooked in our busy lives. She always yearned to paint, inspired by sweeping stands of beech trees dressed in their autumnal glory, and the sparkle of sun glinting off a chuckling stream, to beautiful old stone buildings and mediaeval villages.

She started painting in August 2017, using acrylics, inspired by an artist friend, and she received kind and generous encouragement from another successful local artist. Subsequently with the modern technologies available she found Michael James Smith whose photorealistic style was an absolute inspiration. After following his work and studying his techniques over a couple of years, her range of subjects has broadened, her painting has developed to be more instinctive.

She loves captivating mediaeval European villages and towns, sweeping majestic landscapes, the animal kingdom, and the changing seasons. Inspired by nature and travel, by childhood memories, and how humans have interacted with their surroundings over the centuries.

Melanie has painted many pet portraits and is available for commission.

Painting primarily simply for the enjoyment, she relishes new challenges and seeks to learn and expand her knowledge of painting. Her curious, intrinsically scientific side has recently been fired up to learn more about the history of pigments and their chemical interactions.