I am an illustrator and artist based in Perth, Western Australia. Art is my main passion in life. I have always loved art from a young age. I remember every Saturday morning drawing Fat Cat and Percy penguin for the show and tell segment on Fat Cat and Friends. My favourite activity at a friend's house was colouring in or drawing. In high school many a lunch times were spent in the art room working on my studio pieces or visual diary and I would often volunteer to wash up extra paintbrushes in order to avoid some of Mathematics!

There were 2 career paths I dreamed of in high school one was an art teacher and the other an illustrator. I completed work experience at the Fremantle Children's Literature Centre in 1994 and loved it so much I went back after completing high school in 1996. Whilst most teenagers were at leaver's parties I helped read stories to school children and viewed original artworks and manuscripts by illustrators and authors. I was inspired by the passion they had for their books.

I completed a Visual art degree in 2000 and had a lot of fun creating experimental art in the printmaking and painting studios. This has enabled me to keep my ideas unique and fresh and it has been beneficial in my illustration work. I then completed a Diploma in Education and was an Art, Media, Digital Photography teacher for a couple of years. In 2004 I went back to TAFE and completed an Advanced Diploma in Graphic Design: Illustration major.

I enjoy working in a range of mediums by hand; particularly inks, clay, gouache, coloured pencils, acrylics and pastel, basically whatever can communicate my idea in the best way. I sometimes use digital illustration techniques to enhance aspects of my drawings or to create vector art. I always love trying out new media and enjoy attending creative art workshops and life drawing.

I have created illustrations for a variety of clients throughout the country including The Australian Reptile Park, Black Max Media, Chatterbug Books and Resources, Child magazines, Drawcard Design Group, Hunt For Ideas, Move for Life, Preventing Literacy Difficulties, Ready Ed Publications, Scotch College and various other private clients.

I have experience illustrating for the children's market including greeting cards, editorial and educational illustrations, logos, posters and signs. My work has been stated as having a "lovely light exuberant quality" by Mike Rigoll who illustrated for The West Australian. I was commended by Mary Rayner from The Australian Reptile Park as "excelling in a very short time frame"; in regards to a series of banners, signs and flyers designed for the park.

I am interested in illustrating children’s books through a publishing house. I am also interested in creating illustrative work and paintings for museums, zoos, educational institutions, magazines, greeting card companies and individuals. I love bringing a smile to someone’s face through my artwork and I particularly enjoy drawing animals (including people's pets). I enjoy the challenge of drawing / illustrating new subject matter. I hope that you will enjoy browsing through my Illustration and Painting galleries.

If you would like to view my resume or would like a pdf of artwork samples please email me and I will send you the most recent version, thank you.

All artwork and design within this site copyright © Shannon Melville 2009.
Web design: Shannon Melville of Lemon Zest Design.