About Leanne

Leanne is very proud to be a 7th Generation Australian related to many pioneer families of the Hawkesbury as well as having Aboriginal Wirradjurri heritage.

Leanne was born in Sydney and from early childhood she has been facsinated by Watercolour, after receiving some paints for her 6th Birthday. After leaving school Leanne studied Advertising at East Sydney Technical College – National Art School. Leanne’s earlier artistic persuit was ceramics and Leanne’s pottery was sold through several local galleries in the Blue Mountains and the Hawkesbury.

Thirty five years ago, Leanne and her family moved to the Hawkesbury, and it was here that her desire to rekindle her love of Watercolour took hold. Her method of painting has evolved over the years and her paintings address qualities of transparency, yet are marked by a strong use of colour. Leanne describes her work as representational/ contemporary. Leanne also incorporates into her Contempory Indigenous Art Work Aboriginal Symbolism and cultural meaning and what Leanne has learnt about her culture. 

Leanne enjoys attending regular workshops both locally and regionally, at CASS Art in Action,Kurrajong, the Mitchell School of Arts at CSU, Bathurst and the Grafton Artfest – with many of Australia’s internationally renowned tutors – Stella Pearce, Margaret Wright, Ron Muller, Jenny McNaughton, Ross Paterson, Malcolm Beattie, Herman Pekel, Joseph Zbukvic, Amanda Hyatt, Terry Jarvis, Charles Sluga, Robert Wade, Greg Allen, Julie Goldspink, Angelika Erbsland, Pamela Fairburn, Judith White, Alvaro Castagnet, Dennis Clarke and John Caldwell. Leanne paints watercolour on a wide variety of supports – handmade paper, watercolour canvas and Yupo paper.

Travelling inspires Leanne in her search for fresh subject matter and she enjoys painting en plein air with a group of local artists and she finds the environment she lives in particularly inspiring. Leanne displays and sells her work in her studio/gallery, which is located in the Hawkesbury Highlands, on the escarpment of the Blue Mountains, overlooking the Hawkesbury with stunning views to Sydney.

Her studio is open to the public, last Sunday of the month between 10.00am and 3.30pm or ring to confirm other times. She participates in The Hawkesbury Artists and Artisans Trail open studio weekend in August each year and exhibits her work, locally, regionally and in Sydney. She exhibits her work widely and has won numerous awards for her watercolours and was a finalist at the 2008, 2009, 2010 Art of Sydney Awards at Darling Harbour.