THE WEY GALLERY |  Leila Godden

Leila lives in Sussex and specialises in seascapes, ranging from figurative to abstract. She started painting at an early age and sold her first piece of work at the age of 12, in Scarborough, North Yorkshire where she grew up. The bracing North Eastcoast provided a rich source of inspiration during her formative years, andshe spent many hours on the beach, in all weathers, soaking up the essence of the cold North Sea (sometimes literally). This time has had a major impact on her work as an artist, and her fascination with the beach and sea has developed accordingly. After a Business Studies degree, and 12 years as an accountant, she made time again for her love of painting, attending Hereford College of Art & Design. Regular trips to the St Ives School of Painting have also been an important source of inspiration and technical guidance, and she started selling her paintings professionally through galleries in 2004. Having lived in Gloucestershire for a number of years, she moved to Sussex at the start of 2010, and is delighted to be close to the sea once more. As well as mixed exhibitions she has had several solo shows, and her paintings are enjoyed in France, Italy, Israel, the USA, Canada and Hong Kong, as well as the UK. Her chosen medium is acrylic, for its versatility, and the exciting potential for including mixed media such as muslin and sand. She uses a limited palette to create harmony throughout her work. Previous experience with ceramics and printmaking have resulted in her love of an interesting surface quality. Leila ran an Aromatherapy practice in Cheltenham for just over 10 years, has trained as an NLP Master Practitioner and Life Coach, and has a diploma in Precious Metal Clay. She is now working as an artist full time. ARTIST STATEMENT: “My aim is to capture the essence of a subject while allowing a personal response from you, the viewer. We all have different life experiences, and it’s my intention that a painting will evoke something personal to you. Using a combination of observation and improvisation, I encourage the materials to direct the artistic flow some of the time, and work through a process of chaos and control. Fascinated with the beach and waves for many years, I hope my work will appeal to others who love the coast and the sea. The use of texture (or not) is relevant, and many of my paintings contain sand or muslin, as well as a variety of other mixed media including gold mica flakes to add a subtle sparkle in certain lights".