Mel Baxter

Mel’s enthusiastic and dedicated approach shines through in how she interacts with clients. She collaborates closely with art directors, keeping them up to date on their projects while working quickly, accurately and on-brief. As well as the great outdoors, Mel is inspired by botanical illustrations, old calendars and Australian tea towels from the 1960s and 70s. She studied Visual Arts at Queensland University of Technology before becoming a full-time freelance illustrator.

Approach

Mel has spent the last decade honing her etched-style line art and unique colour palette. She roughs out her images on paper, making plenty of notes along the way. Then she refines the piece by drawing intricate lines on her iPad Pro, working from carefully chosen references. She uses her own signature selection of around 30 colours.

Styles

Mel isn’t sure where the phrase ‘retro Australiana’ came from but it seems to have stuck and it accurately describes her style.

Client list

Mel's clients include Grown and Gathered, Burger Urge, Fat Yak Beer, Birds of Condor, Netherworld, Seeker Lover Keeper, University of Queensland and Ivy & Wood.