Biography
After having spent many years running a busy jewellers shop/workshop I finally sold it in 2001, and started going to the exhibitions I never had time for before. One such exhibition was the SBA annual show, I was amazed at the pictures and decided that I would like to try and paint plants myself. I had picked up a leaflet that advertised classes and found one not far from me run by Penny Stenning SBA. All through my life I had painted watercolours and drawn, mainly landscapes and life drawing so was not a total beginner to it all and knew one end of a paint brush from the other.
I was also studying for the RHS qualifications in Gardening, so gaining useful insight into the botany side of plants. I decided to try and use my jewellery skills as well and to recreate flowers in silver and gold making them as lifelike and wearable as possible.
I was highly delighted when at my first attempt at getting both paintings and jewellery accepted for the SBA exhibition
There are times when I have a problem deciding whether to paint a subject or to make it in precious metals.
Since exhibiting with the SBA I have had orders from Germany and New Zealand and a few interesting commissions. I have exhibited with Florum and Palmangarten, I have also had a few private exhibitions near me in Dartford. I like to try and exhibit both Jewellery and Paintings and I now teach botanical Painting in my house in Blackheath and have taught at Great Comp garden in Kent.
Contact Details
Web: http://www.lesleysdesigns.co.ukEmail: lesleyhall16@btinternet.com