Summer Exhibitions at the Art on Track Gallery at the Helensville Railway Station continue with a show that has a truly Summery feeling of Botanical Watercolours by Lesley Alexander, running from 27th January to 14th February.
Lesley is originally from the U.K. and currently resides in Riverhead with her Kiwi husband and 3 children and works part time in a Learning Support Department of a college on the North Shore and also teaches Botanical Illustration for beginners at the Kumeu Art Centre and also gives private tuition, loving to inspire others by sharing her love of painting plants in all their guises.
Starting out as a qualified nurse she changed courses and gained a First Class honours degree in graphic design, specialising in scientific illustration from Middlesex University becoming quickly involved in medical illustration, however after the advent of computers in this field Lesley became involved in botanical illustration gaining a diploma in botanical art and she is a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists.
Watercolour is Lesley’s medium of choice allowing the adding of layers of glazes bringing out not only the richness of depth of colour but softness too. It’s not always the prettiest or brightest plants, Lesley prefers the ones with character – the ones past their best, all the knobbly imperfections Mother Nature throws at us and allows others to see their understated beauty of not only flowers but Kumara, pomegranates and more.
Lesley was given a book “How to Draw Flowers” at about age 8 or 9 by her Auntie Betty, inspiring the beginning of the journey culminating in the Lesley of today who loves to inspire others to look at plants in a totally different way and hopes that after seeing her Exhibition you will too. So thanks go to Auntie Betty.
Resident Artists have refreshed their works and Arataki Ceramics still as popular as ever along with Halina McGechan”s exquisite hand-made jewellery, Lesley will be at the Gallery to demonstrate her art, contact the gallery for date and times.
Opening hours are Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 3.30 pm.
