Linton Kwesi Johnson - a knitted portrait by Rod Melvin

Knitted portrait of Linton Kwesi Johnson by Rod Melvin

Rod Melvin is a pianist and artist based in London who studied Fine Art at Chelsea School of Art and at Reading University. The Moodies (aka as Moody & The Menstruators) was a group formed at this and performed at Edinburgh Fringe Festival and then at art galleries, colleges etc in the UK followed by European Tours.

Rod then continued working in performance and music, including collaborations with Lindsay Kemp, song-writing with Ian Dury (“What A Waste”, “England’s Glory”), Kilburn & The High Roads, The Comic Strip, Arnold Brown, Alexei Sayle and French & Saunders, as well as performing live as a pianist and singer in residencies in London, including The Groucho Club.

Rod learnt to knit aged 4 and has always made knitted things. In the last few years he ahs developed the more individual style of knitted portraits. His knitted portraits have been included in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition for the last 6 years.