Born in Edinburgh in 1984, Leo has lived most of his life in nearby Linlithgow. Since graduating from Edinburgh College of Art in 2006 Leo has painted full time, helped initially by a PSYBT business start-up grant.

Leo's inspiration is the natural world. He takes every opportunity to explore the landscapes of Scotland and the rest of Britain, walking, cycling, sketching and taking photos, using material gathered to complete paintings in the studio. Leo has a keen interest in natural history and environment and is supported by Scotrail in his ongoing project to explore Scotland's rail-accessible landscapes which will culminate in publication of a book.

In 2011 Leo was invited to exhibit for the first time alongside established wildlife artists at the home of the Scottish Ornithologists' Club. Also in 2011 Leo was asked to paint and donate a giant fibreglass jungle animal as part of Jungle City Edinburgh - a project raising money for The Elephant Family conservation charity.

In summer 2010 Leo travelled across Canada as recipient of a prestigious Royal Over-Seas League Arts Commonwealth Travel Scholarship. His six week sketching trip was inspired by the work of 1920's landscape painters the Group of Seven. Highlights were the famous west coast 'Inside Passage' ferry journey and 3,000 miles by train from British Columbia to Toronto. Time was spent in the Rocky Mountains and in Killarney Provincial Park in Ontario.

In Autumn 2009 Leo visited Orkney as winner of the Alexander Graham Munro Travel Award for "best artwork by an artist under 30" at the RSW Annual Exhibition. Also in 2009 he was shortlisted for the Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize which exists to "encourage creative representational painting and promote the skill of draughtsmanship."

Leo's largest commission to date comprises four dramatic 4m-high depictions of land, sky and space on permanent display in the UK Astronomy Technology Centre at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh. In 2008 Woolmanhill Hospital in Aberdeen commissioned a two-piece painting of a stretch of North-East coastline. Leo's paintings are regularly included in RSA, SSA and RSW selected exhibitions and are exhibited at galleries throughout Scotland and in London.

My work is in the following winter exhibitions:

Aberdeen

Leo on film - discussing the Canadian Group of Seven

The Dulwich Picture Gallery in London recently held the UK's first ever large-scale exhibition of paintings by the Group of Seven. Leo's response to the exhibition can be viewed here - http://dulwichonview.org.uk.

Sketches from Canada - book available to purchase

Sketches from Canada, a limited edition publication of Leo's Canada sketches and travel writings, is selling well. Signed copies can still be purchased for £15 (includes UK postage). See sample pages by clicking on artworks. Please click on contact to order your copy.

If you wish to be informed of exhibition details and other news please send your email address to Leo.
Any comments or enquiries about exhibitions and commissions are very welcome.