About Me
Hi there, Nice to Meet You!
Hi there! I’m Mel Langton and I’m a Lincoln based freelance designer and illustrator who loves to create unique, vibrant and uplifting original artwork.
My portfolio includes colourful custom illustrations, bespoke portraits, surface pattern design, art prints, cards, homewares and clothing.
I enjoy creating artwork using both traditional and digital hand drawn techniques.
For my commissioned work I favour drawing using Procreate, which allows me to create colour-popping designs, but with the ease of editing. I also love to work using acrylic inks, watercolour, brushmarkers and metallic inks.
I could never choose between working fully traditionally or digitally. You can’t beat the feel of paper, the smell of ink and getting your hands messy!
Thank You, He-Man
I know it sounds clichéd, but I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. At 5yrs old I was obsessed with drawing He-Man. I would also spend hours drawing tiny people that I’d make up. I used to cut out these tiny figures and draw background scenes for them, that I could move them around on.
As a teenager I was a dedicated Britpop fan (although I always referred to it as Indie) and would spend hours poring over album artwork. I loved to while away the hours creating my own designs and characters, inspired by the music I was listening too.
I loved the idea of symbolism and storytelling, like in the Art Nouveau and Pre-Raphaelite pictures I was such a fan of.
Although I loved drawing and painting, I also enjoyed animation, jewellery making, sculpture, sewing and embroidery. Basically, I had no idea which direction would be best to pursue my creative passions. For this reason, I decided to study a GNVQ in Advanced Art & Design in my hometown of Leicester.
After 2 years of study there I was torn between graphic design, illustration, fine art and jewellery and silversmithing. At least I’d narrowed it down a little bit!
Eventually, in 1998 I decided to make the move to Lincoln to study Graphic design and Illustration. Then in 2001 I graduated with a BA Hons in Illustration from (what was then) De Montfort University.
At that point, many of my friends and peers decided to either move back to their hometowns or to bigger cities. But I had grown to love Lincoln and really wanted to stay, yearning to build a creative career right here.
Artistic Endeavours and Roller Skates
Over the years that followed came several artistic endeavours. From painting signs for pubs and shops, to custom artwork for friends and family and even trying to start a clothing brand with a friend.
Later, that same friend and I set up Well For Instance Ltd. This was a fledgling company designing custom caricatured greetings cards and wedding stationery.
After 6 years of running the business in our spare time, we made the tough decision to end Well For Instance. We had both been gaining more personal commissions, alongside the business AND our day jobs. Also, I’d started playing the full contact sport of Roller Derby, which had ignited a new passion that I wasn’t going to give up.
We decided we both needed to be honest about what we really wanted.
Two months later I hosted my first solo art exhibition, and this cemented my ambition to become a solo artist.
Going Solo
Roller Derby had introduced me to a whole new world and subculture. Strong, powerful, inspirational women were flipping conformity on its head and becoming their own heroes.
At last, I understood the kind of artwork I wanted to make.
From that point on I continued to build my portfolio, whilst creating artwork for my team, The Lincolnshire Bombers. I gained more and more art commissions, and exhibited my artwork at more art shows, events and markets.
The ball was now rolling and I started to lookout for more exciting opportunities to showcase my work. That’s when I was tagged in the call out for artists for the Lincoln Barons’ Charter Trail.
Seeking Exciting Opportunities
Although I didn’t know it at the time, this would pave the way for a number of art projects throughout Lincolnshire. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to produce colourful designs for the Lincoln Knights’ Trail and Lincoln IMP Trail. I was also commissioned to illustrate the ‘Kipper the Tortoise’ design for the RAF 100 Voices Trail.
In 2022 I was awarded funding by Lincoln Creates to bring my ‘Piecing Us Together’ idea to life. This project allowed me to collaborate with 40 local businesses to create their own bespoke puzzle pieces. These individually hand painted pieces finally came together to create one giant colourful and inclusive city scene.
My last art trail was the St Barnabas Hospice HeArt Trail, in 2023. This was extra special as I was appointed their art trail Artist Ambassador, along with designing and painted 4 HeArts.
I’ve also been commissioned to create public art for EMR and North Notts and Lincs Community Rail Partnership. For these projects I ran workshops with various community groups, schools and youth groups to create collaborative pieces for display.
These artworks can now be found on permanent display at railway stations across the East Midlands, including Lincoln, Derby and Nottingham.
Why I Love What I Do
I love to bring exciting ideas to life and regularly produce commissioned artwork for both business and private customers.
Whether it’s colourful and engaging artwork to lift a business, eye-catching and inclusive design to represent a community or uplifting and inspirational artwork to celebrate your family or loved ones. My passion is creating colourful, unique and uplifting designs that connect with people to empower and inspire.
The best part of my job is when someone commissions me to create a special bespoke piece of art for them. I love the process of connecting with my customer to create something truly unique to treasure. I also love to see their reaction to their final piece!
It’s a real privilege to be granted a peek in to someone’s world, and to hear their stories, in order to create something very personal for them.
If you’d love to work with me, I’d love to hear from you!
Where You Can Find Me
As well as creating commissioned work I regularly exhibit my own original artwork at art exhibitions and artist markets.
I also sell my work online through Etsy and Teemill.
Don’t forget. If you’d like to find out more about commissioning a special art piece for yourself or someone special, then please feel free to Contact Me.
You can also keep up to date with my projects by following me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
If you’d like to see examples of my original artwork, bespoke portraits and public art designs please visit my Portfolio.