The Mindful Maker : How Nature and Play Shape Her World
There is a distinct kind of magic that happens when you take art out of pristine, quiet galleries and drop it back into the wild. For one of our wonderful local creatives, this philosophy isn’t just a style of working—it’s a way of living.
From the windswept coast of Southeast Ireland to the sun-drenched shores of Scarborough, Western Australia, her journey is a beautiful reminder that art belongs to nature, and art belongs to everyone.
An Outside Child: From Waterford to Berlin
Growing up in Waterford, Ireland, she was an “outside child” through and through. If she wasn’t exploring fields or wandering near the beach, she was indoors bringing massive structures to life—building towering Barbie houses out of anything and everything until they covered half the lounge room floor.
That innate urge to build eventually led her to art and design school to study fashion. However, a pivotal trip to Berlin changed everything. Standing before a massive, mesmerising sculpture exhibition—a powerful, quiet room featuring a huge black pool of liquid with a dip descending mysteriously from above—she was spellbound. No one knew where it came from or where it was going; the raw power of the room silenced the crowd. She returned to art school, immediately dropped fashion, and switched her focus to sculpture.
Beyond the Curated World: “Art is for Everyone”
After graduating, she found herself working among the high-flying elite of the global art market, navigating Art Basel in Switzerland, major art fairs, and international Biennales. But surrounded by the polished, exclusive walls of the curated art world, she realised something vital: it wasn’t for her.
“Art shouldn’t be hidden away behind exclusive glass or restricted to pristine white walls. Art is for everyone.”
Mellina Vandervalk
Craving a return to raw, unclouded creativity, she began working for Forest Schooling in the UK—an outdoor nature school concept. It was here that a major shift occurred. Watching children create pure, unclouded art amongst the trees, she realised that learning and creating don’t require four walls. Children don’t need to be contained to be inspired; they simply need the freedom to explore.
Finding ‘The Spark’ in Western Australia
After meeting her life partner, a move across the globe landed her right here in Western Australia. Since arriving, she has immersed herself in the local creative scene, working with Reggio Emilia early years studio and shaping the children’s art program at L’atelier right here in Scarborough.
Today, her life in WA is fueled by an outdoor lifestyle deeply intertwined with nature. The colours of the coast, the textures of the bush, and the open air serve as a constant muse. For her, creativity and play are completely inseparable components of who she is.
The Meditative Power of Making Together
Whether she is tinkering solo or guiding families, creating in nature brings out a deeply meditative state—a way to stay firmly rooted in the present moment.
“Ninety per cent of my personality is wrapped up in being creative,” she smiles. “Creativity and play are intertwined in how I am. It allows me to be creative in every single moment, because truly, there is creativity in everything we do.”
We are incredibly lucky to have her inspiring energy in our neighbourhood hub, reminding us all to step outside, play without boundaries, and look at the natural world a little more creatively.
