Melanie Gros

My name is Melanie Gros. Raised in Provence and now based in Marseille, I draw my daily energy from the Mediterranean Sea; a vital ritual that allows me to breathe and balances the intensity of my creative process. This fluid energy flows directly into my work, which I craft through a rigorous process of research and spontaneous inking.

My professional background as a former sommelier and specialized educator has gifted me with a unique sensitivity, merging the precision of sensory analysis with a deep, empathetic understanding of human behaviour and interaction. I am fascinated by contemporary mythology and particularly committed to evolving the representation of women within these narratives. My mission is to draw women back into the heart of history alongside their fellow men while imagining a more connected, nature-filled future.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts with Upper Second Class Honours in Illustration from Oxford Brookes University. My artistic practice was deeply shaped by four years of weekly drawing at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, as well as in museums across London, Paris, and Marseille. I have showcased my work in several key exhibitions, including Oxford Artweeks, One Planet Abingdon, the Old Fire Station, and the London Business Design Centre in Islington where I had the privilege of exhibiting a project focused on the history of women and the contemporary heroines working for a brighter future. My clients value the vitality, colour, and movement in my work, as well as my adaptability and professional approach. My diverse background, spanning sommelier work, sensory analysis, social work, and visual communication, informs every narrative I create.

My path has been shaped by loss, resilience, and an innate ability to always see the glass as half full, alongside a vital, urgent need to write and paint. For me, words, watercolour, and ink are tools of resilience as much as they are for creation. My journey has also been shaded by a deep love for nature, vast open spaces, and the laughter of my family around the dinner table.

I grew up in a very athletic family, always climbing mountains, canyoning, or playing basketball. My father always pushed me to my boundaries, teaching me the strength to overcome any challenge, while my granny passed on to me her love of books. Before she died, I promised her I would write and illustrate books of my own one day. Today, I am a mother of two, also currently caring for a baby bird fallen from its nest, while doing my best to protect it from my crazy cat! I want to be remembered as someone who seized life with both hands and translated that raw, vital energy onto the page.