Born and raised in the west end of Toronto, Leslie loved colouring and drawing as a child. She studied art through high school but went on to complete a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Marketing from the University of Toronto.

After 9 years in advertising and marketing - both in Melbourne, Australia and Toronto - and after 18 years raising two beautiful children, she decided to turn her painting hobby into a new career. Before children, she took drawing courses at the Art Gallery of Ontario, but over the past ten years she has turned her focus to painting and has been taking courses and workshops through the local Freehand Art School and with American artist, Jed Dorsey, through his online school - Acrylic University.

Having dabbled in watercolour, pencil and oil, Leslie has been working primarily in acrylics for the past few years. She enjoys painting landscapes, pets, homes and florals and is constantly inspired by the colours and beauty found in nature and through her travels.

Leslie has participated in a number of local art shows and sales and is a member of the Lawrence Park Art Collective and the North Toronto Group of Artists.