About Me

I was born in Malta, a small island in the Mediterranean, in 1983. I've since emigrated, first to France and now live and work in Cork, Ireland.

I'm a bit of a Jack, I do many things.

I run my etsy art shop Meluseena - for which I create illustrations to then sell as prints and a variety of homeware and accessories.
I freelance illustrate -  children's books, adult book covers, do poster design-work for publishers and record companies.
I write micro-fiction - posting to my blog, and running Bantam Beasts.
I run a headpiece-and-accessory business, Moth and BayLeaf.

if you need more detail, do read on. I've a kind of CV below, and links peppered all over my website where I am trying to create an epicentre for all my projects :)

In the Press

A selection of published interviews and articles, online and in the press, starting with the most recent. Click the thumbnails for a closer look at these articles.

2011, August, The Cork News. 'Daytripper' article about my day-to-day life, art business, writing and derby.

 
2011, May, interview about my art and businesses featured in 'Life+Style' Magazine conducted by Charlotte Stafrace.

2010, How I Write article in the Malta Independent. Read online here


2009, March Photoshop Magazin, Turkey. General interview about Digital Collage techniques with Gokan Uz.

2008, Sunday First magazine, published Malta. Article by Erika Brincat, focusing on the art and story of my book Xi Mkien Iehor

2008, The Sunday Times newspaper, distibuted in Malta. Article by Stanley Borg about my book Xi Mkien Iehor

Fine Art

Though primarily a digital artist, I come from a traditional art background. I've had several exhbitions in Malta, setting up my first aged 16, and have since shown work in Paris and even more recently Australia. Below is a list of my exhibition history.

photo taken at my 2009 exhibition in Canberra, Australia. Exhibition set up by The Artworks.

2009
Imaginary Fairytales: An exhibition of digital works reproduced onto high quality giclees in October at the Front Gallery in Caberra.
 
2008
Xi Mkien Iehor : An exhibition of large-scale single edition prints of digital accompanying artwork for my novel Xi Mkien Iehor

2007
Paris debut : 6-piece solo show at the Malta House, Champs Elyseés, Paris

2006
The Secret 40-piece solo exhibition at Saint James Cavalier, Valletta, Malta
The Picture House 6-pieces in a joint exhibition at The Picture House warehouses in Mosta, Malta

2004
VeeGeeBee debut exhibition: 22-piece solo exhibition at VeeGeeBee gallery, Valletta, Malta
Tales of Twistedness and Folly 7-piece solo show at Juuls in Paceville, Malta
Origin: 15-piece joint exhibition at Manoel Theatre Courtyard, Valletta

2003
Baystreet expo: 9 piece show, Baystreet, Malta
Do you dream in Pictures? 18 piece show at 'Il-Forn', Birgu, Malta.
Castille Cellars expo 4-piece exhibition in group show at Castille Cellars, Valletta, Malta

2001
Misfits Solo exhibition at Misfits, Paceville, Malta
Student House, Campus UOM group show, 3 pieces on exhibit - UOM campus, Malta
Da Giorgo exhibited 2 canvas pieces and one installation at Da Giorgio, Baystreet, Malta

2000
Faerytale solo exhibition at The Labyrinth, Valletta, Malta,

Photo taken at my 2007 exhibition in Paris

Photo from the La-La-Land stand at the Life in Style trade show August 2011, feautring Lisa Falzon prints and cards.

I started selling my art in 2009 through Etsy. I sell prints, wearable art, stationery and mirrors. I also sell my artworks as prints and merchandise to indie boutiques.
The publishing company La La Land publish and distribute my artwork on cards, prints and notecards in Australia.

Illustration

I've worked on book covers, CD album leaves, posters and billboards. Check out my 'illustration' section in my gallery for more visuals. Here's a selected list of clients and projects I've worked for:

2009
The Horrifying Tale of Mrs. Trollop: Book cover art, published by Rembrandt Publishing House, USA
Curvy 2009: Selected as featured artist in the publication: Interview and art, published by Paper Tiger, Australia
Catching Stars: CD booklet art for CD 'Fairytales' by musician Ken Young, published in Australia.
Kalejdoskopju: Fully illustrated scholastic book, published by Merlin, Malta
Photoshop Magazin Turkey:  Interview in March 2009 of Photoshop Magazin, Turkey
Sofia and the Flying Sofa: Book illustrations for children's book by Erika Brincat, published Malta.

2008
Wied Wirdien: Cover and promotional art, published by Merlin, Malta
Inspector Mustachio ' The Curse of Shipwreck Bottom ': Cover and spot illustration for children’s book published by Community Press, USA.
Xi Mkien Iehor: Cover art, published by Merlin, Malta
3pod Christmas CD CD cover and booklet art for band 3pod, published in Australia
Curvy 2008: 2 artworks featured in collective book, published by Paper Tiger, Australia

2007
Sqaq L-Infern: Cover and promotional art, published by Merlin, Malta
Inspector Mustachio ' A Case of Stolen Time': Cover and spot illustration for children’s book published by Community Press, USA
Inspector Mustachio ' The Mystery at Comanche Canyon': Cover and spot illustration for children’s book published by Community Press, USA
Curvy 2007: 1 artwork featured in collective book, published by Paper Tiger, Australia

2006:
Senduq Kuluri: Orangjo Fully illustrated scholastic book published by Merlin library press in Malta.
Senduq Kuluri: Blu Fully illustrated scholastic book published by Merlin library press in Malta.
Sunday First: A series of illustrations throughout 2006 for Maltese Sunday paper magazine issued monthly.
Furrrballs: Creation of campaign art for animal-rights organisation in Malta - artwork featured on buses, billboards and posters.
Global Warning CD cover art for band Dripht, Reciprocal Records, Malta
Cracked Canvas Cover art and spot illustration for poetry book, published by Maria Grech Ganado, Malta.

Writing

I published my first novel Xi Mkien Iehor in November 2008. It was published by Merlin in Malta, and is written in Maltese. It's a poetic allegorical story for a young adult audience. It won first prize for overall presentation and 2nd prize for young adult literature in the Maltese Book Awards for 2008.

A translation is in the works.

Bantam Beast pendant

My project Bantam Beasts was launched in 2010 and combines my love of microfiction with my love of accessories and quirky household items. The project, co-created and mantained by fellow microfiction writer Rhona Flynn of Little Arrow, focuses on bringing properly tiny flash fiction to unlikely places. We make mirrors, wearable-stories and cushions and hope to expand our line. Check out my Writing section for more details.

Moth And BayLeaf

In September 2010 my interest in Tribal Fusion BellyDance and costuming gave way to my starting of an accessory-and-headpiece design business. I sell through Etsy, and update my following via a dedicated Facebook Page.

I have a dedicated page to this project, where you may see a variety of the pieces I've created in a gallery.

The focus of Moth and BayLeaf is in combining feathers, flowers and vintage accessories for very striking and bold statement accessories for men and women.

In August 2011, Moth and BayLeaf took part in the Lunasa runway fashion show in Cork, with four new pieces.