Leslie studied at Norwich School of Art and West of England College of Art (now both universities) graduating in Sculpture.
It was in 2000, after 20 years in Ceramics, that a visit to Crest, Cromer’s twin town in southern France, prompted her return to to her first love, painting. Crest was encircled by the river Drome, its streets and buildings carved out of rock that had once been under the sea,, contrasting with Cromer’s sea-sculpted beaches, sandy cliffs and red tiled cottages made with flints from the sea shore, all for ever battling the sea.
Leslie now paints, from the 1870s railway carriage in her garden, oil and acrylic studies of her beloved North Norfolk (she can trace her family back to the 16th century in North Norfolk, her father a keeper at Cromer Lighthouse, her great Grandfather a crewman on the lifeboat “Louisa Heartwell”) – delighting in light bouncing off rough or calm seas of Cromer or its wide sandy beaches. She adores the sun rippled beech trees of Felbrigg’s Great Wood and the wonderful vistas from the heights of Sheringham Park. Sunlight defining the space we live in. Sunlight giving hope and sustenance.
She has exhibited at Wells Maltings Trust’s “Connections”, Norwich Castle’s “Heritage”, all NOVA’s exhibitions and every spring takes part in Open Studios. Her work is also in Canada, Spain, France, Germany and Austria.