'Melanie brings life to a project, not just with her imaginative proposals but in the way she works with people. She knows how to work with local people, clients or fellow professionals on a project so others understand her work and become enthused about it as well. She is the artist that we always try to work with.'
Stuart Ryder
Director
Ryder Landscape Consultants
South Shields Promenade
‘Melanie is currently working with South Tyneside Council on a £2.2M project funded by the Coastal Communities Fund to build a new promenade at South Shields coast. She has designed furniture and artwork for the project, which will play a central role in giving the scheme its uniqueness and special appeal. She is always willing to listen and accommodate the wishes of the client and we hope that our successful working relationship will be evident in the finished scheme.’
Josephine Baker
Project Manager
South Tyneside Council
Growth Gateway Sculpture
'Professional from beginning to end. Engaged the local community, worked well with all partners on a complex public art project that had significant risks associated with it. The final sculpture is a true representation of initial designs but the craftsmanship outweighed expectation. A joy to work with'.
Lynda Sharp
Economic Regeneration Manager
Chesterfield Borough Council
Spirit of Saltergate
'When the artwork to commemorate our former home of 139 years was commissioned, Mel was given the remit of consulting supporters.
She embraced this with great enthusiasm and used the ideas and themes suggested by fans to inform the project. Her meeting the supporters, and her coming to a game, ensured that the finished work recognised that it was the fans who defined the Club. The resulting strong visual image is one that everyone who loved Saltergate can identify with.
Mel also indulged me to incorporate a multi-media aspect into the Spirit of Saltergate. This was a challenging concept that Mel made sure worked as hoped. It means that her superb piece of art is also an ongoing focus for heritage projects.'
Peter Whiteley
Trustee: Heritage & Human Resources
Chesterfield FC Community Trust