Melanie grew up on a rocky island in Northern Ontario where the dramatic landscape and environment has given her a deep affinity with the natural world. Found objects, mostly organic in nature, are often used as research material. Inherently drawn to the visual and aesthetic, Melanie was drawn east, to the Maritimes, where she completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts program with Honours, at NSCAD University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Returning to Ontario, Melanie entered the three year Jewellery and Metals program at Georgian College in Barrie, where she graduated with Honours. Since 2003, Melanie has pursued jewellery-smithing exclusively, with a strong focus on handcrafted, ready-to-wear, jewellery and objets d’art.