Canadian Landscape Artist Shelley Leach
My work reflects a deep connection to the natural world, shaped by personal exploration of the Canadian landscape.
I’m a Canadian landscape and wilderness artist working in oil, acrylic, and watercolour. My work blends realism and impressionism, rooted in over two decades of full-time professional practice. I create original works that offer both lasting beauty and a meaningful connection to place.
I often create a series or projects of original paintings focusing on particular areas. My project work goes beyond the canvas, incorporating painting, and narratives to foster a deeper appreciation for these areas and the uniqueness that connects them to our lives. I often speak about the stories behind each painting—where it was created, what inspired it, and why it matters. This commitment to meaning and connection is central to my practice as an artist.
I have original artworks in permanent collections, including the City of Ottawa Fine Arts Collection and the Canadian War Museum, which acquired a work of remembrance into its permanent collection in 2012. Having grown up in a military family, creating the piece carried a quiet understanding of what can accompany the emotional landscape of that life. Although figurative rather than landscape, it reflects the same commitment to creating meaningful art. My work is also represented in numerous corporate and private collections.
I grew up moving frequently, born in Kingston, Ontario, and then living in Petawawa, Ontario, Europe, and Winnipeg, Manitoba, before finally settling in Ottawa, Ontario, where I spent my teens and early twenties. Growing up surrounded by my mother’s ever-changing paintings, I developed a deep appreciation for art and was encouraged to develop my own skills, eventually pursuing a career as a professional artist.
After leaving home, I spent twelve years living in remote regions of western Quebec along the Ottawa River in the Ottawa Valley. During my time in these remote whitewater regions, nature and wilderness were seamlessly intertwined with daily life, offering constant artistic inspiration. It was here that my natural affinity for the arts fully took hold. In 2005, I moved back to Ontario, where I continue to live and work as a full-time artist.
Most of my work to date has been in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, where I’ve spent much of my career — dedicating countless hours to observing, exploring, and understanding the distinct character and subtle nuances of each province’s unique landscape.
When working on location, I sketch and create small watercolours. My larger work is created in studio. I gather reference materials through journaling and photography to capture the true essence of the landscape.
Each painting is unique, and I give it a title only once it’s finished. Over time, I’ve come to see that titling a painting feels like giving it presence. The moment I title it, the work seems to stand on its own — complete in its own way. The title is meant to express something about the piece and to invite curiosity about the story behind it.
My artwork has been exhibited in a variety of settings over the years, with notable highlights including a solo exhibition at the Ottawa International Airport and a feature at the Canadian Museum of Nature showcasing my Dumoine River Project (2008–2012).
My work has also appeared at major public events, such as Ottawa’s Outdoor Adventure Travel Show, where the Dumoine River Project (2008–2012), Abitibi River Artwork (2012–2013), and my Bon Echo Project (2024) were presented. In 2025, the complete Bon Echo / Mazinaw Rock Project was exhibited at Bon Echo Provincial Park—the site that inspired the work. These are select highlights from my broader body of project work; in addition, my artwork has been shown in numerous venues and galleries. You can find original paintings currently available on the next page. Small works of art and field sketches are with the corresponding project in the art projects page.