Leila’s paintings are defined by vibrant colour and expressive brushwork, conveying her emotional response to a subject. She wants her paintings to calm the mind and spark the senses! She paints her subjects with a mix of energy and enthusiasm, and calm and sensitivity, qualities that help her see and capture her subject’s character.
Winning a set of oil paints in a national art competition at the age of 11 was the start of a lifelong love of painting. Although art was always Leila’s biggest passion, she initially studied History of Art and English at the University of Nottingham, and after graduating, worked at the Condé Nast Publications, working with images across the magazines. At 25 however, the pull to paint was too strong, and she applied to study fine art at Chelsea College of Art and commit to art fully.
Leila studied at the Slade School of Art (Master of Fine Art) and at Chelsea College of Art, University of Arts London (Bachelor of Fine Art).
One of Leila’s paintings is on a postage stamp. It was selected as part of a collection of 12 official stamps issued by La Poste in France, to celebrate the colour blue in art. Her painting Blue Lake is the same collection as paintings by Van Gogh, Degas, Derain and Klee.
Her work has featured in Country Life magazine’s ‘My Favourite Painting’. Commissions include a portrait of Dame Zandra Rhodes and equestrian paintings for the Royal Box at Cheltenham Racecourse and the Jockey Club.
Leila is represented by Buckingham Fine Art, with original paintings available at Aura Fine Art, Buckingham Fine Art, Cotswolds Contemporary, Soho Fine Art and select independent galleries.
Licensing and copyright are represented by Bridgeman Images. Limited Edition Prints available at Bridgeman Editions.
Leila lives in London/ Surrey with her husband, three children and dog Alfie.
