Melissa Logan has always been creative. She still has folders filled with paintings and drawings her mother saved from her childhood. Although her family did not have great wealth, Melissa always seemed to have access to paint, crayons and coloured pencils, nurturing a creativity that has remained with her throughout her life.

After leaving high school, Melissa applied to the Whanganui School of Design, where she was accepted to study design. It was an exciting and formative experience, with access to state-of-the-art equipment and opportunities to explore emerging technologies. Her particular focus was interaction design, where she learned to code designs that could move, interact and tell stories.

In her final year, Melissa and a fellow student were given the opportunity to work on an internship project with the Sarjeant Gallery. Their task was to transform the gallery's collection into an interactive experience, allowing visitors to virtually walk through the gallery and click on artworks to discover more about the pieces and the stories behind them.

Melissa went on to enjoy a 30-year career in graphic design, specialising primarily in websites and working in both New Zealand and the United States. While creativity remained central to her professional life, she had not actively pursued many personal art projects until the arrival of Covid brought a change in direction.

After moving from the city to the Kaipara to be closer to family, Melissa became increasingly drawn to the natural beauty of Baylys Beach. Over time, she began creating and collecting a body of work inspired by her surroundings, eventually exhibiting several pieces at Muddy Waters Gallery in Dargaville.

Melissa was accepted into Elam School of Fine Arts last year, an opportunity she has had to postpone while recovering from a serious head injury following a car accident. She hopes to return to this next chapter of her creative journey when the time is right.

Her connection with the natural world continues to inspire her, and she is often found on the side of a road or walking along the beach, gathering leaves, flowers and shells to tuck into her pockets.