Leila Winslade
With no formal Art training Leila Winslade, worked for many years as an event manager until giving up in 1999 to pursue a career as an Artist and Illustrator.
Brought up on a farm in the West Country, her passion for the countryside has inspired her work as an artist. By studying animals and people, and the landscape they live in, she works in several styles and mediums to convey the essence of country life.
A fascination for foxes in particular lead to the creation of Farcical Foxes in 2003 and a range of limited edition prints, cards and gifts are now sold in Galleries throughout the UK. These charming characters represent a humorous and sometimes poignant take on the countryside and those that live in it. Many original works of these characters are sold and even more have been commissioned and are held in private collections around the world, including Canada and South Africa.
This has also lead to further work as an illustrator for children’s books and cards, as well as artwork for more commercial projects for clients such as the R.A.B.I and NatWest Bank.
Her serious portraits in oils of wildlife and the rural landscape have also gai ned her considerable recognition and gained her commissions nationally, including Sir Ranulph Fienes.
Leila Winslade now lives near Belfast with her partner Matthew and dog Murphy, who has also been caricatured along with the cat for her series ‘Murphy and Mog’