Melinda was born in Australia but lived in Israel for many years before moving to the U.K in the mid 1980s.  She has been involved in studying and working with textiles for over 25 years. Her contact with the textile world began at an early age, as her father was director of a commercial dyeing and weaving company.  Later, during her time in Israel, Melinda studied and completed a number of textile and art based courses at the Tel Chai FE College.

After arriving in Britain, Melinda was delighted to discover the Chelmsford branch of the Embroiderers’ Guild and immediately enrolled on the City & Guilds Creative Embroidery courses, completing Part II in 1993.  She holds a Certificate in Education (PCE) and teaches and mentors various workshop groups and textile based programmes for adult education colleges in Essex.  She has also worked for many years with awarding bodies in accreditation and moderation of art and design related courses.

A founder member of the ‘93 textile group and EAST, (of which she is currently chairman), Melinda enjoys the challenge and stresses of producing work for regular exhibitions and private commissions. Her clients are both local and from abroad. Through the medium of fabric and thread, Melinda endeavours to achieve a vibrant and exciting quality to her creative work, with design sources taken from her Australian or Jewish heritage.

The unusual combination of materials has always interested Melinda and been a prominent feature of her work. Many times she incorporates a multi-layered effect by using painted and decorated silk fabrics within her pieces. These often take the form of backgrounds that provide the base for further embellishment and detail. In her more recent work, a partnership of acrylic surfaces and silk fabrics has proved successful when exploring her “water - based” themes.

Weaving techniques have also been a regular choice when planning and developing ideas. The challenge of working with wire warps has been an exciting concept that Melinda has continued to explore. By combining a variety of wire gauges with a range of fabrics and threads, the less predictable outcomes often lend themselves to the themes of Melinda’s work.

“Having lived most of my life near water, I have been interested in water patterns and movement for many years. My recent work explored the shallow clear waters found along the Great Barrier Reef. Staying with this theme, I am now focusing on the patterns and changing shore line of the Sea of Galilee (a large fresh water lake) close to my home in Israel.”

Workshops and Lectures:

Suitable for all levels, Melinda offers workshops in:

Silk Painting – various techniques and ideas

Wild Weaving – exploring weaving using a hand frame loom with wires etc

Machine Embroidery – various techniques and ideas for exploring free machining.                   

Specialist workshop in soluble fabrics and / or textures and surfaces are available.

Available for talks and demonstrations.

Contact - Melinda@easttextile.co.uk for more information