Hey, I’m Lesley
I have a background in clothing design. I first started painting in Minneapolis in America where I studied at the Minneapolis Studio School from 2002 to 2004. After returning to New Zealand in 2004, I joined the ABC class at Inverlochy Art School in 2005, and completed the Masterclass the following year. I moved to Melbourne in 2007 where I had a studio in Middle Park.
I paint and create from my beautiful studio in Haumoana, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.
In late 2024 we moved from very urban Melbourne, Australia to very rural New Zealand. It could hardly be more different. From being 4 metres away from a 4 lane main road and one of the busiest tram lines in Melbourne, in a converted shop to Hawkes Bay oil the middle of a vineyard. It sounds like the plot of a TV miniseries! I am blessed with a beautiful house and a purpose built studio - the dream of any artist. My paintings are mostly abstract but I am also drawn to landscapes and have an archive of available work. In Australia I sold my work through arts fairs, online, and by entering exhibitions and competitions.
My background is clothing design. I had a notable career in Wellington in the 80s and 90s designing and retailing mostly menswear. I still make garments mostly for loved ones. Some of the elements of of textile design are evident in my paintings. I will often use textiles or paper patterns in the layers of my mixed media works.
Studio visits can be made by arrangement.
Haumoana - Translation from Maori, Sea (moana) breeze (Hau).
Hawkes Bay - Named after a long forgotten bit of English aristocracy. Maori name - Te Matua-a-Maui or The fishhook belonging to Maui.
