About

I grew up in Esh, a small village just outside Durham City. The far-reaching views and rural landscape stay with me.

When I left the University of Northumbria in 1998 with a BA Hons in Fine Art (sculpture) I found it hard to stay creative once the everyday calls of life took over. It wasn’t until 2020 that painting became my passion.

My work is expressive, bold, magical. It generally has a narrative, usually referencing a memory or a dream. It’s pretty much always figurative and describes a fleeting moment in life. Symbols reoccur like the cat, trees, moon and stars. These anchor me and make me feel connected to the earth. I like weaving in reflections and shadows, which represent different perspectives.

I paint my life, the life of a woman, from the UK, navigating her way through the 21st Century. I paint, joy, pain, love and loss. I’m reflecting and processing, it calms me and is essential to my happiness.

My style of painting is intuitive and quick. I mostly use acrylics. The way it behaves suits my style. And my favourite thing to paint on is a smooth board. I don’t like to see the texture of the surface through the paint. I find it distracting. I want the image to float.

I’m not bothered about technical convention or perfection. I prefer expressive marks, getting the image out, from my mind to the board.

I hope I make paintings which resonate, sparking a memory or triggering an emotion. I would like the viewer to engage in the energy with which it was painted.

I work from home in a designated studio space, a home that I share with my husband and two young boys.

My main avenue on social media is Instagram @melaniehickmore_art. I love the freedom of Instagram and enjoy using it as an art journal to document a variety of finished artwork, process reels, behind the scenes, sketchbook work and inspiration. 

Artists Bio

1992-1995 New College Durham GNVQ (advanced) Art and Design

1995-1998 University of Northumbria BA (hons) Fine Art Sculpture

Exhibitions and appearances

2021 November - The Wooden Box, Ramsgate - 'Spring' selected for a group exhibition to celebrate the gallery opening.

2022 May - Joint Open House with Samatha Anderson as part of the Adur Arts Trail

2022 October  - Sussex Contemporary - 'Wild Garlic Pesto' selected for a group Exhibition at the i360 Brighton

2022 October  - Artist Spotlight - Broomhall Life Drawing classes held a class inspired by my life drawings

2022 November  - Do Not Obstruct Gallery, Kemptown, Brighton. 3 x paintings (The Lake, Meditation, The Coffee Pot) selected for a group exhibition 'Not Another Estate Agent' 4-25th November

December 2022 - Do Not Obstruct, Brighton Hippodrome. Group show. 3 x paintings (Girls Night, The Dinner Party, The Cheese Plant) 2-4th December 

December 2022 - Guest Artist Solo Show at Tomas and Jani's pop up furnituire shop, Church Street Brighton