I’m Mel Montoya, a Barcelona-based illustrator originally from Medellín, creating children’s illustration and story-driven visual worlds.

As a child, every Saturday morning I would wake up before everyone else, gather my paints, egg cartons, and anything I could find, and start making. I grew up with a deep need to create with my hands.

My path first led me through Industrial Design and UX Design, with studies across the USA and Argentina. But the urge to paint never left me, and eventually brought me back to illustration, where I continue to learn and grow my practice.

Many of my ideas begin in dreams, in nature, and in the need to express emotion. Through color, narrative, and gentle humor, I build expressive scenes and meaningful stories.

I’m especially drawn to picture books, editorial illustration, and playful product concepts, often developing my own stories along the way. For me, each morning is a new chance to observe, absorb, and shape something new.