I’m Michelle, I was born and raised in South Africa, I have a BA Hon in graphic design and have worked as a graphic designer and lecturer for about 20 years in South Africa

I draw and paint the things I find or see to create a memory of a place, time, object or feeling. I work in pen and ink with watercolour, with some collage elements. My work is illustrative, quite detailed, always has a strong narrative, is often a little whimsical and usually colourful. It is both organic and playful yet structured.

I create ceramic sculptures and love working with clay; you can almost create something that feels alive. I experiment with different clays, processes and techniques, adding colour with slips and glazes.

Wildlife and its symbiotic relationships between grasses, flowers, insects, birds and animals is fascinating. I am inspired by growth and natural life cycles; I absolutely love the intricate architecture and functionality of seed pods. The textures in nature: frosty leaves, tree bark, the centre of a flower, Cheetah spots or spines on a hedgehog. I strongly believe that we need to work collaboratively to restore, nurture and protect all of nature. We need to reverse the damage we’ve done and put much more effort into wildlife conservation. 

I hope that my art inspires more awareness and love for the beauty of nature and helps to nurture a need for conservation.