Pauline Leader

My paintings are a personal response to the landscape - the process and journey is everything.

A contemporary landscape and seascape painter, I work predominantly in oils. My work is based on my close observations of nature, painting atmospheric impressions of land and sea with large dramatic skies.

After immersing myself in the landscape, I work intuitively with freedom of expression and spontaneity, working from my feelings and emotional responses. Often working from subliminal influences my subconscious takes over and the painting can end up painting itself. Colour and light have a profound effect on my senses and moods and the end product is very much a visceral response. I love painting expansive skies, land and coastal areas, using the colours of the changing seasons and the patterns and shapes that emerge from the land and sea, I aim to portray works of either high drama or feelings of complete serenity, depending on mood and weather patterns.

My paintings are inspired by the landscapes and coastal areas of Northumberland and the North East of England. These areas are a constant source of deep and soulful inspiration which informs my practice. Motivated by the magic of light and the changing seasons, my work is constantly evolving. Inspired by natural elements; be it clouds, colours, textures, shadows or water, my aim is to create distinctive and dramatic compositions.