Samantha McMahon is an artist, calligrapher and educator with an Arts Degree, a formal calligraphy qualification, and over 30 years of specialist teaching experience.

Through Personally Penned & Painted, Samantha is known for her gentle, expressive watercolours and elegant hand lettering, often inspired by botanicals, quiet moments, and her love of the French language. Her work blends watercolour and calligraphy with a refined, European sensibility and a deep appreciation for life’s simple beauty.

For the past several years, Samantha has been teaching Absolute Beginners in Warrnambool, guiding students who long to explore a creative hobby but may not see themselves as “artistic.” She is now bringing her much-loved courses to Melbourne.

Her program includes two carefully designed levels:
Absolute Beginners (Level 1) — created specifically for those starting from scratch, with no prior art experience required.
Beyond Beginners (Level 2) — for students ready to build on their foundations and grow in confidence and technique.

At the heart of Samantha’s teaching is a strong belief that watercolour should feel accessible, empowering and joyful. Her classes focus not just on completing a finished piece, but on truly understanding materials, techniques, and decision-making…so students leave with skills they can apply independently to their own creative projects.

With decades of teaching experience, Samantha brings a calm, encouraging presence to the classroom. She understands that many adults arrive feeling hesitant or out of practice, and she creates a supportive, pressure-free environment where curiosity, experimentation and progress are valued far more than perfection.

Students who complete her courses are warmly invited to join a private Facebook community, where they continue to share work, ask questions, support one another, and participate in optional weekly creative challenges. For Samantha, teaching doesn’t end when the class does….she is deeply passionate about nurturing long-term creative confidence and connection.

Whether introducing complete beginners to their very first brushstroke, or guiding developing painters toward greater independence, Samantha’s mission is simple: to help people discover that creativity belongs to them too.