From Corporate to Creative: My Artist Story

Love brought me to Australia after meeting my now-husband while we were both working in investment management in Edinburgh, Scotland. We have two wonderful boys and, before they reached the age where hanging out with us ‘oldies’ was no longer cool, we set off on a big family adventure.

In 2020, we travelled around Australia in a caravan for 12 months. Little did we—or the rest of the world—know a global pandemic was about to unfold. We were fortunate to continue travelling safely and experience many incredible parts of the country. It was a life-changing journey that shaped us both individually and as a family.

Despite the tight packing limits of caravan life, I made room for my painting supplies. With the time and space to reflect on what truly made me happy, I found the courage to leave the corporate world and pursue art professionally.

I now hold a Diploma of Visual Arts and work as a full-time artist from my home studio on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Alongside my studio practice, I also work part-time as a Gallery Assistant, surrounded by the inspiration of contemporary art and creative community. My layered mixed media artworks are deeply shaped by my Scottish heritage and my chosen life here in Australia, drawing on memory, place, and the stories carried through everyday objects and personal history.

Leigh x