About..

Hello, I’m Mel Hills, a Tasmanian artist with a love for the natural world.

Growing up on the spectacular East Coast of Tasmania, I developed a fascination for all forms of wildlife, and early on, an obsessive interest in birds.

My childhood was spent roaming the hills and coast around Orford, and resulted in extended bushwalks that nurtured a deep love of the Tasmanian landscape with its exquisite light qualities and intriguing denizens.

When I was fifteen I was lucky enough to be able to attend a summer school in Watercolour that was directed by Nigel Lazenby and mentored by Lloyd Rees. What started as a curious interested blossomed into a love affair with the watercolour media and from then on I couldn't stop painting.

Led by my fascination with wildlife, I studied Zoology at the University of Tasmania. Followed by a Graduate Diploma in Wildlife and Scientific Illustration from the University of Newcastle.

While a need to explore, discover and understand had me linking studies in both art and science it is the bringing together of the two that gives me most pleasure. For me, there is no boundary between the two disciplines; both require observation, analysis and experimentation. They’re very complimentary.

I’m just a kid who likes to say “hey, look at how cool THIS is” all the time.

I specialise in wildlife art, scientific illustration and watercolour landscapes on paper and canvas. Murals are also a source of entertainment. The delight of scaling up and the challenges that and the elements bring in - as most are outside - stretch my boundaries.

My favourite tools are my sketchbook, camera, binoculars/scope and treasured microscope.

The study of taxonomy, and the wonderful details that can be found when you look closely at many everyday objects continue to inform and inspire my work.

The Creation Process:

Each image comes together differently, but all require focused and dedicated work.

Some are achieved on the spot, when I have a close encounter with a creature that captures my attention and my landscape paintings are increasingly influenced by the plein-air sketching I love to do.

However, generally, each artwork is the result of a creative process that can take a considerable amount of time - weeks, months, years - of planning, research and observation, depending on the topic and the temperament of the critters involved.

There is usually a lot of field sketching, where I gather information about habits and behaviours.

I also take lots of photographs and uses museum specimens to ensure details are correct.

Once I have all the information, the finished image is roughed out and then built up in successive layers in order to get the complexity, depth and detail required.

Current & Future Projects:

For me the constant immersion in my art brings daily inspiration in subject, medium and location.

Over the past few years I have been collating a handmade book of native orchid illustrations - for my own education. I hope to finalise that project within the next year or two. It is satisfying to see how it grows.

I'm also working on material for several up-coming exhibitions and a new print run for my latest range of cards, prints and designs.

I recently branched out into oil paints which is resulting in a whole different creative conversation for me, especially as it opens up a huge range of possible subjects and expression to play with.

Tasmania is just so full of inspiration, it is almost overwhelming, but I’d love to explore other landscapes more fully. I’m fascinated by interfaces - boundaries - edges- light plays and interactions. Mountains and islands which have so many dynamic interfaces are rich in subject matter.

It would be fun to do an Antarctic study, or study an island such as Macquarie, or Maatsuyker – in all weathers, with all their occupants.

Exploring the Desert and the Kimberley are also ideas that have been growing within me for some years.

To sit within the ancient landscape - be absorbed and observe the interplay of landscape and light, creatures and ecosystems. Maybe compare and contrast Tasmanian light and Desert light…

I’m so lucky! The entire process is so much fun, exploring, observing, problem solving; just the thought of picking up a paint brush makes me want to jig!

My hope is that my love for the natural world shines through my work, irrespective of the medium, subject or location.

I hope too that you find inspiration and delight as you explore my work in the gallery and online shop.