Mellissa Read-Devine -
painter, Printmaker, Mother, Wife, Christian

Born in London in 1966, I emigrated to Australia with my parents and grew up in Melbourne. As a child I was a ballet dancer, a reader, a daydreamer and I loved to draw. Despite this idyll I left High School with a very jaded and unfulfilled view on art.

For over ten years I had the aching desire to do something - design and make things, but I allowed life to take me around the world, have a family and be distracted by the mundane and necessary.

In Darwin amidst a huge change in my life's directions I finally allowed myself time to take a painting class. It was an amazing release; I devoured courses and books in art - history, techniques, movements, and artists both ancient and contemporary. I wanted to try everything at once! This attitude and study ethic has continued. I find it hard to call myself a 'self taught' artist as the world has such a wealth of talent & experience past and present to learn from! It wasn't long before I began painting professionally and have done so now, for eleven years.

The range of mediums I explore hint at different facets of my personality I suppose. Each medium, to me seems better suited to a different subject and possibly style. I started with illustrative miniatures in oil because I adored the meditative state they demanded, and after printmaking found me, I discovered the same process in the delightfully historic wood engraving. Linocuts are where I go when I need more size and speed and the random surprises I encounter with more abstract collagraphs are exciting.

My paintings are where my deepest thoughts are, as the painting process is more immediate and prone to emotion. I plan my still life paintings around stories that move me at the time usually scripture based, and I continue to meditate on that 'story' until the painting is completed. Other works tend to be of my surroundings, the wonderful bushland and rocky outcrops that is where I live; the flowers and birdlife that bring me joy.

ABOUT THE GALLERY Curator Suzie Startin is committed to presenting and nurturing work by artists with strong connections to the region. Paintings, sculpture, printmaking, photography, jewellery, textiles and unique sculptural and functional pieces in wood are exhibited. HOW TO GET THERE From the Hills District: Travel north along Old Northern Rd until Wiseman's Ferry. Catch the main car ferry across the river (this is free!) and then turn left to head towards St. Albans. From the West: Travel along Windsor Rd until you reach Pitt Town Rd follow this through to Maroota. Turn left onto Old Northern Rd and follow through to Wiseman's Ferry. Catch the main car ferry across the river and then turn left to head towards St. Albans. NB: The Road to St Albans isn't sealed, however it is well-graded.