David Mellor
'Cruising the Blue Green'

David Mellor
'Permit Brace'

David Mellor
'Won't Get Fooled Again'

Born in St. Helens, Lancashire, England in 1954, David had a talent for painting and drawing at a very early age. Though art was very much an early love of David’s, he turned to the RAF at the age of 15 to become an aeronautical engineer and remained in this role until he was 30. Soon after, he embarked on his career, and first love, as an artist and moved to Australia, where he began his painting career in earnest.

“I always painted the sea after being inspired by a Reader’s Digest article I read featuring paintings by Jack Spurling and Montague Dawson, aided by my grandfather who was a master fisherman from Liverpool. He used to tell me tall tales and true of big fish and bigger seas, when I was five or so, and this must have stuck with me with ever since because I have always loved the sea”

About 10 years ago, David started painting billfish, such as marlin, and has been painting them and other species of fish ever since. As David puts it, “Marlin are the birds of paradise of the sea, and I couldn’t remotely paint the brilliant colors they electrify when they get excited, but it’s fun trying”

Additionally, David has painted many other species of fish, including southern thin-waters fish such as bonefish and permit. His artwork resides in some of the finest collections from all over the world, including former President George Bush’ collection. David is a member of the Australian Society of Marine Arts and is internationally recognized for his exquisite paintings, full of brilliant colors and detail.