Leo du Feu

About me

I’m a painter, born and brought up in Scotland, trained at Edinburgh College of Art. Landscape, nature, environment are my passion and inspiration and I love nothing more than being out exploring with binoculars, sketchbook, paints. I paint in watercolour as it’s flowing and immediate and exciting to use, and very portable. In the studio I also work in acrylic and oil.

I’m pretty obsessed with wildlife, birds in particular often fly their way into my art. I’m involved in lots of environmental campaigning and regular voluntary bird surveys for the British Trust for Ornithology. I teach regular art workshops for Edinburgh charity Art in Healthcare and for other public and private groups and individuals, both for adults and children. I give talks about my art and my Scotland by Rail ScotRail-supported art & nature travels. I have two art books published, Sketches from Canada and Landscapes & Birds of Scotland.

I hope my work inspires people to discover and appreciate nature for themselves. The more you learn about nature, the more you love it. Understanding is our best hope of protecting the wildlife and landscape we’re lucky enough to still have.

Specialities

Sketching & painting outdoors
Freeing up, being spontaneous (although I do also love detailed miniatures)
Watercolour
Acrylics
Wildlife watching and enthusing about birds

Things I love

Birds; wildlife; ‘wild’ places; travelling by train, sketchbook on the table; the Scottish nature writings of Jim Crumley; the paintings of the Canadian Group of Seven; owls; the Isle of May; Orkney; all Scottish islands; whales; family; fantasy novels; our baby; Radio 4; Radio Scotland; Out of Doors – best programme out there….oh, and art!

It’s good to know ‘rules’ but I strongly don’t believe in sticking to them. Paint and painting is such a joy, use it to get out there and to really look at things, to be stimulated, to enjoy!