Leila Godden

Leila was brought up in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, and spent many hours on the beach, in all weathers, soaking up the essence of the cold North Sea (sometimes literally). This time has had a major impact on her work as an artist, and her fascination with the beach and sea has developed accordingly.

After a Business Studies degree, and 12 years as an accountant in the electricity supply industry, she made time for her love of painting, attending Hereford College of Art & Design. Regular trips to The St Ives School of Painting have also been an important source of inspiration and technical guidance, and she started selling her paintings through galleries in 2004. As well as mixed exhibitions she has had several solo shows, and her paintings are enjoyed in France, Italy, Israel, the USA and Hong Kong, as well as the UK.

Leila's aim is to capture the essence of her subject while allowing a personal response from you as the viewer. We all have different life experiences, and sometimes a painting will evoke something personal to you. The use of texture (or not) is relevant, and many of Leila's paintings contain apparently random textures, as well as thoughtfully placed additions. Life is full of the unexpected, and these random textures represent the unexpected elements which make life interesting and unique. Previous experience with ceramics and printmaking have been instrumental in her love of an exciting and thoughtfully executed surface quality. Some paintings specifically exclude texture, presenting a smooth, calm surface. Her chosen medium is acrylic for it's versatility, and potential for including mixed media, such as muslin and sand. She uses top quality Golden Acrylics, keeping to a limited palate to create harmony throughout her work. Most of her paintings are on chunky canvas, with the image continuing around the edge. All the paintings are original and unique, as she does not repeat a painting to order, although she is happy to create something similar.

Having lived in Gloucestershire for a number of years, she will be moving closer to the coast at the start of 2010 to a new home in Sussex.

See examples of my previous commissions Leila Godden's commissions