Or Melissa (she/her) — though I like to be known as Moo, my childhood name. It helps to keep me playful.

I am a Tasmanian multi‑disciplinary artist and Registered Art Therapist (through ANZACATA), and I believe creative expression is one of our most powerful tools for navigating the complexities of being human.

My path here has been anything but linear. Alongside my formal training, my practice is shaped by lived experience — grief and loss, trauma, neurodiversity, and the ongoing journey of widowhood and single parenting. I have also navigated the NDIS system, supported loved ones through dementia and palliative care, and lived within the ripple effects of PTSD in a veteran family context.
While I would never presume that my experience mirrors yours, these seasons have given me a deep respect for the complexity of trauma and the courage required to heal.

These experiences have taught me patience, advocacy, tenderness, and the quiet strength needed in times of uncertainty. They inform the way I hold space: gently, without assumption, and with deep respect for each person’s story.

Professionally, I bring extensive experience as a Creative Director, Youth & Community Facilitator, and Therapeutic Arts Practitioner, supporting children, families, and communities facing trauma, grief, homelessness, neurodiversity, and complex psychosocial challenges. I am skilled in group facilitation, program development, trauma‑informed practice, and supporting people to identify their needs and navigate services in ways that feel safe and empowering.

I grew up in rural NSW with a family heritage in printing, which led to a metropolitan career in graphic design, advertising, multimedia, and film. Eventually, I returned to my first love — fine art — a passion honoured after winning the North Sydney Art Prize.

In 2006, I was drawn to the calm and natural beauty of Tasmania. Since then, I’ve woven together contemporary art, glasswork, and community practice, eventually completing my Masters in Therapeutic Arts Practice through the MIECAT experiential model.

Grounded in Christian faith and community involvement, I bring values of compassion, humility, gratitude and outreach to everything I do. I love building collaborative relationships that foster resilience and belonging.

Today, my practice sits at the intersection of creativity, lived experience, and trauma‑informed care. I offer spaces where people of all ages can slow down, explore, express, and reconnect — where the process matters more than the product, and where there is always room to breathe.

If you’re seeking a gentle, sensory‑rich space to reconnect with yourself — or you’d like to explore how creative process can support wellbeing, grief, neurodiversity, or life transitions please fill in the Client Intake Form to discuss your needs. I’d love to welcome you into my studio for a one‑to‑one Art Therapy session (or perhaps a group MakingRoom workshop)