Melanie Coutts uses the painting process to explore the complex issues of relationships and emotions. 'There's always more to things a hidden value' is a quote Coutts ruminates on to examine the degree to which one reveals oneself both metaphorically and literally. The result is a narrative that represents a variety of relationships both observed and her own. Coutts combines the painting technique of layering with the psychological impact of colour and shadow as a means to extend the metaphor of disconnect and deception.