Melanie Russell
Melanie Russell creates drawings and paintings which capture fleeting moments of botanical beauty in loose lines full of energy, mimicking the very spring that nature relies on to burst into bloom. Russell’s works are playful and experimental as well as quiet and sensitive, dancing between representation and abstraction.
Observational drawings are the basis of her works which she approaches with a sense of naivety, creating loose drawings in a range of materials, from graphite to pastel and charcoal. She breaks down the organic forms into complex confident lines against a patchwork of colour, giving as much importance to the form as the navigation of negative spaces.
Russell’s work is a celebration of life and growth, the organic forms which are the subject of her work mainly come from her garden which she created from seed and cuttings, spawning each flower and plant from seed to exuberance. Found objects also act as a muse to Russell’s work; plants, shells and leaves which catch her eye are collected and studied. The colour palette is abundantly bold and vibrant alongside works which relish in rich hues and subtle pastels. Reminiscent of stained glass windows, the works are monuments to the wonderment of the natural world.
Education
2004 MFA Fine Art, Slade School of Fine Art
2000 BA(Hons) Fine Art, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff
Solo & Two Person exhibitions
2023 Hustling & Jostling with Justine Formentelli, The Woodfield Pavilion, Tooting Common
2007 Recent drawings and paintings, Mount House Gallery, Marlborough
Group exhibitions
2023 A Generous Space 3, Huddersfield Art Gallery
2022/23 Plant Life, The Art of Frinton, Frinton-on-Sea
2022 Colours An Exhibition of Painntings, The Stone Space, London
2022 On Paper, Paper Gallery, Manchester
2021 A Generous Space, Hastings Contemporary
2019 Extraordinary Sketchbooks, Mount House Gallery, Marlborough
2015 Contemporary British Watercolours, Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery, Kent
2015 Gin 5, 6GINS Project Space, The Royal Standard, Liverpool
2013 Form/Function, Pluspace, Manchester,
2013 Creekside Open, A.P.T Gallery, Deptford, London,
2013 Meditations, Pluspace, Coventry,
2012 Bow Arts Open 2012, Bermondsey Project Space
2012 March Group Exhibition, Hada Contemporary, London
2012 Objects of Desire, The Searchers Contemporary, Centrespace, Bristol
2011 Salon Art Prize, Matt Roberts Arts, London
2007 Jerwood contemporary painters, Jerwood space, London, Bayart, Cardiff, The Lowry, Salford
Salon 07, Seven Seven Contemporary Art, London
2005 2D Open, Surface Gallery, Nottingham
Creekside Open, APT Gallery, London
Homelife, Stroud House Gallery, Gloucestershire
2004 Discerning Eye Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
2000 Phusion, Gasworks Gallery, London
Competitions, prizes and awards
2011 Open Painting Competition, Motorcade/FlashParade, BV Studios, Bristol
2007 Jerwood Contemporary Painters
2005 Creekside Open, APT Gallery, London
2004 Project Award, Slade School of Fine Art, UCL
2002 Kicking off fund, Southwest Arts Council, Stroud, Gloucestershire
Residencies
2006 Arist In Residence, Marlborough College, Whiltshire
Public commissions
2010 Weymouth Hoardings Project, Dorset County Council, Weymouth, Dorset
Workshops
2013 Creative Workshops Volunteer, Macmillan Cancer Support, London
2008-2010 Workshop Leader, Gloucestershire Archives, Gloucester
2008 Workshop Leader, Museum in the Park, Stroud
Educational experience
2007 Tutor/Course Leader, Marlborough College Summer School
2005 Associate Lecturer, Bedford College