Member Spotlight Time - Mel Dunkley

At Paper Traders, we love learning more about

our fabulous members and so

this month our Spotlight is shining on

Mel Dunkley. 

I found Paper Traders by searching in the Yahoo groups for a new group with different challenges. I have been on other groups for a few years, but it is nice to branch out, get different ideas and be inspired by different artists.

I live in Oakham, a small town in a rural area of the middle of England (near Leicester/Nottingham), with my husband, two children (8 and 14) and my little pug dog, Katie. I work in mental health in Leicester and it is lovely to drive back to such beautiful countryside at the end of a busy day.

I grew up in Yorkshire, in the north of England and always enjoyed creating things from an early age. I remember learning to knit, sew and crochet, made my own clothes and dabbled in jewellery making. I was always useless at art at school and quickly realised that I cannot draw at all. It was only in adult life that I realised I could create artwork without having to!

With a full time job, two kids and a house to look after, I don't have spare time to do anything much other than art, although I love socialising with friends. Recently, my son stopped using the conservatory as a play room, so it has evolved into my craft space. I love having an area that can be messy all the time!

I love Van Gogh, Picasso and Kandinsky, but am equally inspired by modern day artists like Teesha Moore, Tracy Bautista and many of the artists' work that I come across on groups like this. And, of course, my craft room would be half empty if it wasn't for Sir Tim Holtz.

If you would like to join Paper Traders and be a fabulous member
 like Mel, click on the purple yahoo
button in the right sidebar for more information.