Melanie Goemans

Melanie Goemans  Melanie’s work is a response to her environment, the places in and around which she lives the everyday; the new that has become the familiar, resonating the thoughts and experiences lived through there. She is interested in the overlooked, incidental forms in nature – how painting / printmaking can draw attention to things with no conventional value and mark them as important through the use of traditional materials, such as oil paint, gesso, gold leaf, etching. ‘I like looking at complicated shapes and drawing them with a very fine brush. The act of painting like this feels almost like stitching or weaving, as slowly with each brush mark the work comes together. I used to think art had to be complex to be good, but over time I have realised that keeping things simple or paring them down can make a bigger statement.’

Melanie grew up in the Lincolnshire fens, spending time in Italy before studying master’s degrees in Florentine Renaissance art, and then Fine Art (painting). After a series of residencies and teaching posts, she relocated from London to the Cambridgeshire fens. Over her career, Melanie has exhibited in group and solo shows across the UK including at the Jerwood Space, London; Bridgeman Gallery, London; Rebecca Hossack Gallery, London; Jaggedart, London; Thompson’s City Gallery, London; Sarah Myerscough Fine Art, London; Florence Trust, London; Quercus Gallery, Bath; Twist Art, Oxford; Beau Art Interiors, Cambridge; Kittoe Contemporary, London; Josie Eastwood Fine Art, Winchester; Stratford Gallery, Stratford upon Avon. Her work is held in corporate and private collections in the UK and overseas and has recently been selected for the National Open Art Competition; the ING Discerning Eye Exhibition; and the John Moores Painting Prize (second round).