About : Melissa Mostyn - Artist based in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

I am an artist and writer by trade.

I make small-scale mixed-media drawings that utilise delicate lines and a particular attention to detail. There’s no grand theory or objective behind them, other than a wish to depict a slice of everyday life, or storybook nostalgia, with contemporary zing – be it a shimmering tone or three, an experimental mix of colour, or a fine neon edge.

I try to draw every day, setting aside anything between 20 seconds and a hour. My tools of choice are fineliners, colour felt-tips, soft watercolour pencils, and ordinary gel pens in metallic, glittery and neon hues. I also work with graphite pencil and Cont� pastel, and I’ve even made use of a cheap biro: its ink has a beetle-like iridescence that I love.

I don’t do many portraits, unless they’re of my children or myself. I prefer to draw food, plant life, objects of sentimental value, woodland scenes, and local architectural features with a certain aesthetic.

I tend to work to A5 and A6 size on heavyweight, lightly textured paper, although some private commissions have been created in A4 size. The feel of said paper enhances the joy I take in mark-making. Favourites include pastel-toned Ingres paper, Manila paper, thick cartridge paper, Day-Glo Post-it notes, and even coloured sugar paper (particularly if I’m using Cont� pastel).

Ultimately, my drawings aim to charm you with their gentle warmth and bon mot, and yet retain a fresh and enigmatic quality.

To find out more about me, visit my website.