Lesley is a visual artist who works with stitched textiles and lives in British Columbia’s Pacific North West where she finds inspiration for her forest-based works.
Born in New Zealand, she is a dual citizen who has exhibited her work widely: Canada, England, USA, Germany, and South Korea.
Her textiles and science-based education include:
BA(Hons) 1st class Embroidered Textiles, Middlesex University, London, UK.
Ecological Landscape Design, Royal Roads University, Victoria, Canada.
City and Guilds of London Institute certificates in embroidery and design, UK.
BA Geomorphology, University of Otago, New Zealand.
Certificate in Visual Design, University of Calgary, Canada.
While exploring the human relationship with the natural environment, her research is supported by her educational background in environmental science. She is also a storyteller. Her narratives are expressed in the all familiar and universal textile media of domestic linens, worn garments and repurposed cloth.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
The Laundry Room, Goward House, Victoria BC 2020
Provinces, Fish Creek Library, Calgary AB 2020
Dissent, Portals Gallery, Duncan BC 2020
Connected Heritage, New Iceland Heritage Museum, Gimli MN 2019
Dualities, Cre8ery, Winnipeg MN 2019
Forest and Sea and the Place Between, Portals Gallery, Duncan BC 2019
Cowichan Valley Fine Arts Show, Portals Gallery, Duncan BC 2019 – Juror’s Choice Award
Pathways, Portals Gallery, Duncan BC 2018
Current Threads 17, Waterfront Gallery, Ladysmith BC 2017
Colour: A Personal Response, Artsea Gallery, Sidney BC 2017; Place des Arts, Coquitlam BC 2018
Eco-Threads, Coast Collective, Colwood BC 2017
World of Threads Festival 2016, Q E Park Community Cultural Centre, Oakville ON 2016
Edge of the Forest, Surface Design Assoc, Fish Creek Community Library, Calgary AB; Coast Collective Arts Centre, Victoria BC; Fibreworks Gallery, Sunshine Coast BC 2016 Women Hold up Half the Sky: An Exhibition in Celebration of International Women’s Day, The Bay Centre, Victoria BC 2016
Salish Sea, Sister Cities, Anacortes WA 2015
Edge of the Forest, Surface Design Association, Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, Art Square Gallery, Toronto ON; John M. Parrott Gallery, Belleville ON; Fibre Arts 2015 Conference, Woody Point NL 2015
Current Threads 14, Nanaimo Art Gallery, Nanaimo BC 2014 Continuum, Sudpfalz, Herxheim, Germany 2013
Current Threads I3, Vancouver Island School of Art, Victoria BC 2013
Articulated Materials: Bridging Waters, Cre8ery, Winnipeg MN; Frazee Gallery, Saint John, NB 2013
Continuum, World of Threads Festival, Oakville ON 2012 BA (Hons) Graduate Exhibition, Middlesex University, London, UK 2012
Articulated Materials: Bridging Waters, Brentwood Gallery, UK 2011
Women of Fibre: Mary Garnham Andrews and Articulation, Whyte Museum, Banff AB 2011 Current Threads 11, Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery, Ladysmith BC 2011
Outlook, CACGV Gallery, Victoria BC 2010
Victoria College of Art Faculty Show, Polychrome, Victoria BC 2010 Narrative Articulations, Victoria College of Art, Victoria BC 2010
Current Threads 2010, Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery, Ladysmith BC 2010
Winds of Inspiration, Quilt Canada 2010, Calgary AB 2010
Urban Textures, Mennonite Heritage Gallery, Winnipeg MB 2009 Unity and Diversity, Cheongju International Craft Biennale, Cheongju, Korea 2009
Unity and Diversity, Discovery Gallery, Edmonton AB 2009
Urban Textures, McMullen Gallery, Edmonton AB 2009
No More White Walls, Other Gallery, Banff Centre, Banff AB 2009
Extraordinary Places, McMullen Gallery, Edmonton AB 2008 Meta Incognita, Mary E. Black Gallery, Halifax NS 2008
Strut Your Stuff, University Theatre, Calgary AB 2007
Meta Incognita, Banff Centre, Banff; Southern Jubilee Auditorium, Calgary, AB 2007
Just For Fun, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton AB 2006 LINKS, fibreEssence Gallery, Vancouver BC 2006
Alberta Scene, National Arts Centre, Ottawa ON 2005 All About Alberta, Discovery Gallery, Edmonton AB 2005
Healing Through Fibre Art, Edmonton Art Gallery, Edmonton AB 2004
Organizations
Articulation Textile Group
Craft Council of British Columbia
Studio Art Quilt Associates
Surface Design Association
Textile Society of America
Victoria Arts Council
Women’s Art Museum Society of Canada
EDUCATION
2014 Ecological Landscape Design, Gaia College, Royal Roads University, Victoria
2012 BA (Hons) 1st class Embroidered Textiles, Middlesex University, London, UK
2007 Certificate in Visual Design, University of Calgary, Calgary
2004 Level 3 Certificate in Design & Craft (Embroidery & Design), City & Guilds of London Institute, UK
2002 Level I Certificate in Design & Craft (Machine Embroidery), City & Guilds of London Institute, UK
1998 Master Knitter of Canada
1978 Diploma in Teaching, New Zealand
1975 BA Geomorphology, University of Otago, New Zealand
RESIDENCIES
2020 Pearson College UWC, Victoria BC
2015, 2016 Vancouver Island College of Art, Victoria BC
2009 The Banff Centre, Banff AB
2008 Leighton Artist Colony, Banff AB