Melanie Walsh studied illustration at the Royal College of Art.
Following this, she worked as a textile designer and for magazine and card companies, including Habitat, Paperchase and The Art Group. However, finding herself becoming more interested in designing for children, she returned to illustration. Her first book, DO PIGS HAVE STRIPES?, was published just a couple of months after the birth of her twin sons.

She has since created numerous flap books and picture books for the very young. She was commissioned to write and illustrate MY FLOWER, YOUR FLOWER for the Eden Project, which was shortlisted for the Booktrust Early Years Award 2004.