For my full CV please scroll further down the page
QUALIFICATIONS
2011 First Class Hons Degree, Fine Art; Norwich University of the Arts
1991 HND, Illustration; Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and Design
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2012 Contemporary Drawing; Nicholson Gallery, Holt
2012 Contemporary Drawing; Norwich Playhouse
2012 Kirsty O’Leary-Leeson; The Assembly House, Norwich
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025 Open Exhibition, Guildford House Gallery, Guildford
2023 Summer Exhibition, Assembly House, Norwich
2021 Somewhere Unexpected, Norwich Castle
2020 Vitalistic Fantasies, Cello Factory, London
2019 Hempstead Arts 19, Norfolk
2019 Contemporary British Artists, Norwich Cathedral
2019 The Institute of East Anglian Artists, Holt
2018 New Painting, The Crypt, Marylebone, London
2018 Connections, Wells Maltings, Wells
2018 Hempstead Arts 18, Norfolk
2016 Contemporary British Painting, Summer Exhibition; Quay Arts, Isle of Wight
2016 NCAS16, The Forum, Norwich
2016 34 x 34, The Crypt, Marylebone Church, London
2015 Unease, Halesworth Gallery, Suffolk
2015 Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize, Mall Galleries, London
2014 Heirs to Turner, Swindon Museum and Gallery
2014 Places and Landscapes, Waterfront Gallery, Ipswich
2014 21st Century British Painting, Huddersfield Art Gallery
2014 @paint Britain, Ipswich Art School Gallery
2014 NCAS 14, The Forum, Norwich
2013 Royal Society of Marine Artists; Mall Galleries, London
2013 Art Links, The Maltings, Stanstead Abbott
2013 Natural Selection; Espacio Gallery, London
2013 Inaugural Exhibition; Red Light Gallery, Norwich
2013 After The Monet; The Coningsby Gallery, London*
2013 State of the Art; Hobart Gallery, Blickling Hall*
2013 Elements; QUAD, Derby
2012 Norfolk Contemporary Arts 12; Forum, Norwich
2012 Artworks Open 12; Cambridge Artworks, Cambridge
2012 Savorr vii; Norwich
2012 Art and The Coast in association with Sainsbury Centre For the Visual Arts,
2012 Show Me The Monet; The Mall Galleries, London
2012 Fields of Vision; Orleans Gallery, Twickenham
2011 Brinkmanship; Rocket House, Cromer
2011 Facing Hard Times; Greyfriars Art space, Kings Lynn
2011 Elements: Material Worlds; The Forum, Norwich
2010 Emergence; Unit 5, Norwich*
2010 Panamama; Stew Gallery, Norwich
2010 Print and New Media; Nicholson Gallery, Holt2009 Impulse Response; NUCA Gallery
* organised and curated
COLLECTIONS
East Contemporary Art: University Campus Suffolk
21ST Century British Art: Swindon Art Gallery
British Art: Madison Museum of Fine Art, USA
21St Century British Painting: Priseman-Seabrook Collection
Yantai Art Museum, China
Jiangsu Museum, Nanjing, China
WEB LINKS - ARTICLES - PRESS
Appearance on BBC 2's Show Me The Monet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc8LCC9vHx0&feature=plcp
Artist Blog: http://kirstyolearyleeson.tumblr.com/
Film: Vessel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWMsUihFG00
Artist Facebook pages; http://www.facebook.com/artistkirstyolearyleeson https://www.facebook.com/drawntogetherworkshops
Priseman-Seabrook Collection: http://www.robert-priseman.com/museum-collections/priseman-seabrook-collection-21st-century-british-painting/
COMPETITIONS, PRIZES, AWARD
2013 Juried Select Winner (drawing category) Artslant
2012 Show Me The Monet, BBC2 Art competition
2011 Finalist in Saatchi Drawing Showdown
2011 Commendation, Facing Hard Times, Greyfriars Art Space
2009 Shortlisted for John Riches Drawing Award, NUA
Artist Statement
“Landscape
is a portrait of the soul"
I
explore the spaces we exist in, both physical and psychological. I
use the landscape which surrounds me as a metaphor for my inner life
of imagination and emotion. The material and immaterial are not
separate but are reliant on each other to create meaning in our lived
reality.
Drawing
dominates my practice at present as the media most compliments and
mirrors my subject matter, which is expressing facets of our
existence. In drawing there is a relation with the provisional and
unfinished, it exists in a state of suspense so connecting it with
the lived life experience.
Drawing
records the unfolding of an event, not the fixed reality of an
object. It is a dialogue between our
thoughts and our experience of the real; drawing has always been
aligned with thinking and ideas, it has as much to do with reflection
as with observation.
I draw what I know and experience not just
what I see. These are not drawings from life, but drawings of
life; drawing the relation between the visible and the invisible.
The
fragmentary nature of the images reflects that although we live a
linear existence, what we currently experience is altered by memories
and expectations, our present being created by these absent moments.
The sharp contrasts also convey emotion and induce contemplation in
the viewer; they suggest a theme of constant change as the eye moves
through the transitioning spaces of constructed and negative spaces.
Biography
Originally
I trained as an illustrator and worked in publishing, however in 2009
after having spent some time raising more children than is really
sensible I decided to escape from the Playground Mafia and I returned
to Art college to study Fine Art. I graduated with a First Class
degree in 2011 from Norwich University of the Arts. Since then I have
exhibited widely in my home county of Norfolk as well as London and across the UK. I have been a finalist in
the International Saatchi Drawing Showdown, featured in series 2 of
the BBC 2 Programme 'Show Me the Monet' and was Visual Art
Trader’s Artist of the Month, they wrote of my work: "The
senses of emotional uncertainty, of time evaporating and of forgotten
memories in Kirsty's drawings are made all the more powerful by the
beautiful and precise execution of the images."
I have work in private collections in London, New York, the UK and the Middle East.
My work has been acquired for public collections including the Madison Museum of Fine Art, USA, Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, Priseman Seabrooke Collection (for further details see below) and the ECA collection University Campus Suffolk.
In choice of medium, Kirsty O’Leary- Leeson changed the history of drawing. Her masterful pencil drawings scratched into gesso record the unfolding of an event with visible and invisible elements in nature such as extreme light and variation of focus. The purity of her work derives from her virtuoso draftsmanship and media. Contrary to master draftsmanship practice since antiquity, the artist rejects paper because, in the artist’s words, “… the textured surface becomes part of the drawing.” To focus the viewer solely on the image, Kirsty sprays a wooden board with gesso and polishes the surface until smooth. Using a hard #14 pencil, she builds her images with tiny marks embedded in the gesso.
Madison Museum of Fine Art
"O’Leary Leeson's intricate and mesmerising drawings show an incredible skill in draftsmanship. Even the white of the page is encompassed into her compositions with her proficient drawing technique." Victoria Heald - Rise Art Curator
The Medium I choose to work in
People often look at my work not sure what media it is, is it some kind of photo or a print? They comment that they have never seen anything like it before.
My artworks are all hand drawn with a pencil, however I do not work on paper; this is because the textured surface of paper always becomes an integral part of a drawing, however my work is purely about the image, I do not want the substrate to interfere with it, it exists free from it's substrate. I have wooden boards sprayed with gesso and lightly sanded down to give a very smooth surface onto which I draw directly. I use a very hard 4h pencil, because the surface is hard anything softer creates too much loose graphite. The images are built up with very small marks, I do not 'shade' but embed each stroke within the gesso. Gesso is an unforgiving medium to work on, unless the mark is very light you cannot rub it out, so I have to work carefully and meticulously.
The art critic David Lee said of my work "It's not often you find work that wants to draw you in". I think part of this is because of the purity of the image achieved through my chosen media.
I spoke to Jeremy Vine on Radio 2 about the use of the sea in my drawings
Kirsty-on-Radio-2.mp3
Dissertation: Mother Dearest
An examination of the representation of Motherhood in contemporary art, from the perspective of the artist as mother
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Below is a link for the proposal for the installation 'Daydreaming A Life Facing Worldly Things'
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Below is a link for a description of my experience of being on Show Me The Monet
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The Priseman Seabrook Collection
http://www.priseman-seabrook.org/
The collections are formed into three categories – 21st Century British Painting, 20th and 21st Century British Works on Paper and Contemporary Chinese Works on Paper. The focus of each collection is on painting and drawing made by hand. Each collection seeks to explore, promote and question the relevance of painting and the hand-made work of art in the digital age through loans, exhibitions, talks and publications. They have grown through direct working and personal relationships with many of the artists represented and been enabled by painting swaps, donations and occasional purchases. We especially welcome loan requests from schools, not-for-profit galleries and council run art museums.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
Fine Art BA Hons, 1st Class Degree: Norwich University of the Arts
Illustration HND: Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and Design
A Levels: Art, Theatre studies, English Literature GCSE’s: 9 A-C including Maths and English
TEFL: 120 hour online course from The TEFL ORG
Employment History
Aldborough Primary School
FT 2022 - 2025: Higher Level TA. Art teacher.
Cover teacher for teacher’s PPA’s, Subject Leader time and emergency cover. Lesson planning. Marking. Resource preparation. Class TA for mixed Yr 5/6 class. Interventions and record keeping. Supporting Forest School.
Gresham’s Prep School
PT 2018 -2022: 1:1 LSA for a pupil with Downs Syndrome.
SCITT Primary Salaried
2018 (1 term): Key stage 2 teacher training
Paston Sixth Form College
FT 2017 - 2018: Additional Support Assistant.
Supporting students academically and pastorally in the study skills centre. Updating EHCPs.
National Trust Sheringham Park
2016 -2017: Running the visitor centre and shop, including cashing up and inventory. Working with and directing volunteers. Engaging with the public in promoting the park. Sales and subscriptions. Forest School. Youth Engagement.
Cromer Junior School
FT 2014 -2015: Teaching Assistant to Year 4 Class. Preparation of resources. Interventions. Leading Art lessons.
Antingham & Southrepps Primary
PT 2014 1 term: Teaching Assistant for Reception and Combined Yr 1 & 2 class. Interventions. Marking. Assisting with paperwork, filing and data input.
Broadland High School
PT 2014 1 term: Art Teacher Temporary cover KS 3 & 4.
Lesson Planning. Marking. Homework. Parent’s Evenings. Writing Reports. Form Tutor.
Sheringham High School
PT 2013 1 term: Supply teacher in any subject KS 3 & 4
Sheringham High School
PT 2012 - 2013: Art Teacher KS3, 4 & 5
Lesson planning. Marking including exam work. Setting targets and inputting data. Attending meetings with colleagues, dept heads and parents. Parent’s Evenings.
Conran Octopus Publishing Co. London
FT 1993 - 1997 Art Dept Administrator & PA to Art Director.
Liasing with editors and freelance staff, keeping financial records, creation of marketing material, ordering of resources, organising photo shoots and meetings.
Personal Development (School Based)
During the SCITT salaried route for QTS, I attended training days which included literacy and maths planning, AFL, BFL, phonics, EYFS, Learning theory (constructivism, behaviourism and humanism) and safeguarding. At all the schools where I have taught or worked, I have attended their professional development days which have included First Aid, SEN training, Safeguarding and Coaching.
As a 1:1 LSA at Gresham’s I worked independently day to day but collaborated with teachers, my job-share colleague, Speech and Occupational Therapists and parents; to plan, differentiate and deliver a cross-curricular timetable that was meaningful, inspiring, and aspirational. It also included social and life skills, and intrinsic motivation. I updated the student’s IPP termly, assessed and regularly reported attainment to our SENCO, and helped review his EHCP.
Paston Sixth Form: I focused on revision techniques, learning styles, time management and organisation.
Freelance History
Workshop Practitioner: 2008 – present
Devising and delivering art workshops for schools, groups, corporate functions, children, adults, mixed aged groups, and those with special educational needs.
Creator and Chairperson of 'Drawn Together' Art Group. Free Art workshops providing creative, stimulating and inclusive opportunities for communities to come together and be inspired through engaging in artistic and creative activities. Workshops take place in schools, libraries and community centres.
Individual Art Tuition: Adults, children and SEN students. I adapt my art lessons to ensure they have purpose and meaning for the individual. I believe that the constructivist viewpoint of making work relevant and with a meaningful context, is particularly helpful for SEN students.
Visiting Artist: for a wide variety of local schools and art groups.
Artist: 2008 – present
I have exhibited widely in my home county of Norfolk, as well as in London and across the UK. I have work in both private and public collections here, in the US and the Middle East. I have organized large group shows and undertaken artist talks. You can find my work, Artist Statement, Art CV and tv appearance on BBC’s Show Me The Monet on my website www.kirstyoleary.com
I have undertaken private commissions for portraits, artwork and murals.
Illustrator/Artist: 1992 – 2008
Illustration: Book jackets, National Lottery Olympic colouring book, Children’s workbooks, WWF.
During this time I also raised 4 children, since my return to University in 2008, I have focused my practice on Fine Art.
Skills
Working in schools means that I am used to working on my own initiative, under pressure, to deadlines and with time constraints. I have very good clerical, interpersonal and organisational skills, and time and resource management; which I also use as a freelance artist and workshop practitioner. I have good ITC skills and have run my own website and social media advertising.
I have a very intuitive, calm, approachable and friendly manner; I can quickly establish relationships with children and adults alike and make them feel comfortable and at ease. I believe very strongly in the importance of speaking from a positive position and avoiding where possible, negative language, even when students/participants are being disruptive or difficult, modelling the behaviour that is required. I am always conscious of being sensitive to student’s particular needs and making them feel included, valued and cared for. I have had experience of working with people of all abilities including those with emotional, behavioural and learning difficulties, and I enjoy the challenges of learning new strategies and adapting responses to ensure everyone can take part as fully as possible.
My Community Arts Group, Drawn Together, aims to provide creative, stimulating and inclusive opportunities for communities to come together and be inspired through engaging in artistic and creative activities. Amongst others, I have worked in conjunction with Victory Housing, Norfolk Libraries, Holt Youth Project and Sheringham Youth Zone, as well as organizing other open-to-all workshops. I have taught mixed age and ability groups of up to 30 people and a positive experience is always the most important outcome. Planning, budgeting and running workshops require me to be efficient, organised and resourceful, and prepared for any eventuality. I have a considered and pragmatic approach to undertaking tasks, and can make informed judgements of situations and complex scenarios. I am a very versatile and adaptable individual with excellent multi tasking skills and a pro-active attitude. I approach all tasks with a desire to achieve an excellent outcome. You can depend on my being conscientious at all times.
Interests
Being an adventurous soul, I love kayaking, white water canoeing and have been known to throw myself out of an airplane – attached to a parachute. When I am on school residential trips I will always join in the activities and have discovered a talent for archery, climbing and competitive banter with the children.
I enjoy cycling, hiking and am attempting to make it through a whole year of sea swimming.
I love attending the theatre, but as I take part in amateur dramatics and therefore know the fear of forgetting lines, I find watching plays stressful, so I prefer to watch contemporary dance. I also attend dance classes.
I have a passion for reading, particularly Sci fi and Fantasy and have spent much of my life trying to find my way through the backs of wardrobes.