lesley d mckenzie

I was born in Aberdeen in 1967 and have lived and worked here ever since. Initially I trained as a graphic artist within the oil service industry, it wasn't until 1996 that I decided to start my own business. I experimented with many painting mediums but ultimately found acrylic to be my preferred choice.

My work is inspired by the North East landscape, which I observe under the dramatic light of the changing seasons. I try to capture nature's celebration of colour, brilliant blue skies, rich greens, vibrant yellows and burning orange/reds. I am so enticed by the vibrancy of the colours and in trying to keep these as pure as possible my current painting style has developed. I use strong shadows to create depth and layers of colour mixed directly on the canvas to build up texture and brilliance. I use trees, animals or sometimes people to lead the onlooker into the paintings.

Although my work could be viewed as imaginary, my paintings do actually reflect a real place or scene that I may have sketched or photographed on my travels. I like to think my paintings display a vivid yet calm surrealism and evoke a sense of wonder.

I do most of my painting in late autumn and winter. I continue to paint sporadically until spring when I begin to concentrate on my ceramic animal sculptures. I generally sculpt all spring and summer until the autumn colours compel me to pick up my brush and begin again.