I’m Mel Langton and I’m a Lincoln based freelance artist and my work encompasses both digitally created pieces and traditional painting techniques.
I create bespoke illustrations, digital portraits, mixed media pieces and hand painted canvases which I sell through artwork commissions and also by selling original artwork and prints of my work at my British Craft House store.
I moved to Lincoln from Leicester to study Graphic Design and Illustration at De Montford University and graduated in 2001 with BA (Hons) Illustration, in which I chose to specialise.
I remained in Lincoln after I graduated and worked on a couple of projects with a very close friend and artist, hoping they would take off to become full time ventures, whilst we both still worked our day jobs. Most of our friends we graduated with moved away to find work, but we saw potential in staying and trying to create something new.
After working on designing our own clothing brand, which featured a range of quirky illustrations and characters, we were approached by an investor who liked our style and saw potential for us in creating bespoke caricatures. In 2016 this became our company Well For Instance Ltd, which created bespoke caricature stationery and we worked on together for a number of years, alongside our day jobs.
Eventually we made the decision to end the business, as we were both finding increasing success with gaining private commissions for our own individual work. Then one day, whilst I was spotted painting a large piece of artwork outdoors for a skate store, the owner of a small local gallery approached me to ask if I would ever consider exhibiting my work.
That lead to me hosting my first ever solo art show in 2012 and the realisation that I could actually make a go of pursuing a career as an artist.
I now produce a range of colourful, bold and edgy artwork with music, lifestyle, pop and alternative culture playing as huge influences within my work. For a number of years I also played roller derby with the Lincolnshire Bombers and so strong females and motivational and inspirational individuals are a reoccurring theme throughout my work. I also like to create pieces that promote discussion about topics such as mental health.
I am also known for my creation Slothypops the Sloth, who is famed for his unexpected adventures, love of gin, dressing quite inappropriately and occasionally riding bareback on chickens and lamas.
I really love to create artwork that connects with people or inspires them, that people can enjoy for themselves or give to someone special.
I have also created artwork for a number of public art trails over recent years, which has lead quite unexpectedly to me working with schools, and this year I designed and painted one of the imps for the forthcoming Lincoln Imps art trail, which will hopefully help to raise funds for St Barnabas Hospice.
I regularly exhibit my artwork in both solo and collective exhibitions and you can catch my next solo exhibition from 7th September to 13th September at the Gallery at St. Martins,
I first found out about Makers Market From Home from a fellow British Craft House artist and I was really excited about the opportunity to be able to showcase my work from home, especially during this awkward time of lockdown. It’s also fabulous being able to gain an insight into what my fellow makers are creating, how they work and what inspires their creations. It feels like a real growing community.
Watch Mel’s interview on our Midday Makers series on IGTV.
Visit her Instagram @mellangtonart
