Lesley Banks

About me

I studied at Glasgow School of Art gaining a BA Hons in Fine Art from the painting department.

In my early career I focused on my life and those around me, seeking out the quintessential ordinariness of everyday life to create figurative interiors inspired by my tenement flat in Glasgow. At this time I was also a member of the Victorian Arlington Baths and produced two exhibitions using the life of the baths and its members as inspiration.

As I enjoy working in themes and in search of a new challenge I successfully applied to be Artist in Residence at Edinburgh Zoo with the help of a Scottish Arts Council Grant; I produced “Urban Zoo’ , an exhibition of paintings, photography and sound. Several trips to Italy sometimes on holiday sometimes grant assisted resulted in exhibitions featuring atmospheric Italian interiors and landscapes.

Recently as Scottish Canals first Artist in Residence, funded by Creative Scotland, I walked and painted along the 137 miles of the beautiful Scottish canal network. Lesley talks about this experience in the BBC programme Roads Less Travelled: Atlantic Way .

I work mainly in oils. However, lately I have been experimenting with watercolour and mixed media on paper along with painting on different surfaces including birch wood panels.

My work hangs in several public collections including Kelvingrove Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow (GoMA).

Specialities

Oil Painting
Mixed Media
Life Drawing

Things I love

I have juggled a painting career with bringing up three lovely sons with the help of my husband. The recent addition to the family, a Spoodle called Bella, was instrumental in getting me outdoors walking the canal towpath and now going to Canifit which is running with a group of other mad people and their dogs.

When not running through the woods attached to my dog I love to cook. I would rather read a book than watch TV. I travel as much as I can afford as trips always lead to new painting inspirations.

Lesley is the tutor for our new Scottish Canal Art Experience. Find out more…

The Basin in Autumn by Lesley Banks

The importance of ‘slow looking’ can never be under estimated, look up at that rainbow, don’t miss the spider’s web glistening with dew…engage your eye and connect with your surroundings.