Canadian Landscape Artist Shelley Leach

My art medium is oil, acrylic and watercolour painting; genre is Canadian landscape and wilderness. 

I have original artwork in permanent collections, including the City of Ottawa Fine Arts collection and the Canadian War Museum where my own work is showcased along side my mothers earlier work. I also have numerous pieces in corporate and private collections.

I'm in my 20th year as a practicing professional artist.

My artistic vision is deeply rooted in the Canadian landscape and wilderness, with a style that blends elements of realism and impressionism. My work is shaped by personal exploration of the Canadian landscape.

I often create a series or projects of original paintings focusing on particular areas. My project work goes beyond the canvas, incorporating painting, photography and narratives to foster a deeper appreciation for these areas and the uniqueness that connects them to our lives. 

I’ve held a paintbrush for as long as I can remember. My mother, Mary Louise Leach (1945-2003), was an accomplished artist and mentor who played a pivotal role when I began painting. Her work, collected nationally and internationally, includes over 25 pieces in the Beaverbrook Art Collection at the Canadian War Museum. Although, she was best known for her traditional landscape paintings that also depicted the Canadian Landscape.  

My father, Bill Leach (Retired Lieutenant-General, CMM, CD, 1942–2015), had a distinguished career in the Canadian Armed Forces, he was a recipient of the Canadian Order of Military Merit (Commander) and the US Legion of Merit (Commander). After retiring from the military, he served in various leadership roles and, at the time of his passing, was Chair of the Board at the Canadian Museum of History. I am deeply proud of my parents and the legacy they left me—one built on creativity, service, and an enduring commitment to Canadian culture.

Since 2005, I’ve dedicated myself to the fine arts, building on my lifelong journey as an artist, always mindful of the early foundations that continue to inspire my present and future as an artist. 

My artistic development was influenced by the diverse experiences of my upbringing that cultivated the tenacity that defines my work as an artist today. When working on location, I paint small plein air watercolours, and gather reference materials through journaling and photography that I later incorporate into my larger paintings to capture the true essence of the landscape.

I was born in Kingston, Ontario and spent most of my youth living in the Ottawa area. From there I spent nearly 12 years living in remote areas of Western Quebec from the mid 90's to 2004 where my professional art career began. Living in the remote whitewater regions of Quebec nature and wilderness seamlessly intertwined with daily life, providing inspiration from the rugged, untamed natural beauty of these areas. These early experiences had a lasting influence on my work.

Now living in Ontario my art has evolved beyond depicting the landscapes of my early surroundings, drawing new inspiration from the diverse and natural landscapes of Canada.

Notable solo art exhibitions include the Ottawa International Airport and the Canadian Museum of Nature, where my 2008-11 Dumoine River Project was featured as part of the Dare to be Deep tour in collaboration with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society as they celebrated the establishment of Gwaii Haanas as a National Marine Conservation area. My art has been featured at events such as the Outdoor Adventure Travel Shows in Ottawa were both my Dumoine River, and 2024 Bon Echo Projects were featured. Since 2005 my work has been shown at numerous events and art exhibits showcasing my original wilderness art. 

 A lot goes into each painting, actually getting into the studio to create that one-of-a-kind original is only a fraction of the work I put into creating it.