CAROLE LESLIE

 

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As a contemporary abstract painter on Vancouver Island, I create intuitive abstract paintings that help collectors transform their homes into personal sanctuaries.

I believe our inner and outer worlds are deeply connected — and that art can nourish the soul, awaken inner wisdom, and support emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

"I may not have gone where I intended to, but I always end up where I need to be." Douglas Adams

 

 

My Artistic Approach:

I intuitively layer colour, shape, texture, and mark-making to express moods and energies. When the forest outside my studio bursts with vibrant greens in spring, those colours and that sense of joyful anticipation flow into my canvases. When I seek calm, soft pinks and gentle neutrals emerge.

Each contemporary abstract painting is created as both a reflection of the natural world around me and the inner landscapes we all navigate.

My work is ideal for those seeking calming abstract art for restful spaces, energizing pieces for daily inspiration, or nature-inspired works that bring the beauty of Vancouver Island indoors.

 

 

My Story & Philosophy

I am a self-confessed introvert and homebody who has spent more than 20 years using art to create sanctuary in my own life. For me, painting is a meditative practice.
For collectors, choosing the right piece becomes an act of intention — selecting art that supports the life and atmosphere you wish to cultivate at home.   I believe we each have the power to shape our lives with grace and beauty.

My hope is that my intuitive abstract paintings become quiet companions that help you do exactly that.

 

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A  Few Quirky Details About MeBecause the interesting parts are often in the details:

  • My father called every teacher I ever had “Miss Spink” and every new dress “a gown.” He invented stories about a magical place called Candyland — I think I inherited his love of whimsy and humour.
  • At 15, a chance meeting with a hippie led me to read the Tibetan Book of the Dead, sparking years of spiritual exploration.
  • I’ve worked as a department store candy counter clerk (until the smell became overwhelming) and — surprisingly — as a government tax collector, where I learned you can be kind in any role.
  • Many years ago I took the Orient Express from Paris to Athens with almost no money or language skills — a thirsty but memorable adventure.

Today you might find a well thumbed David Hawkins book on my night table and a dollar-store sudoku puzzle. Sneak a peek in the pantry and find it stocked with sockeye salmon, organic peanut butter and some herbs hung to dry on little strings. Eclectic, like my paintings.

 

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Where Have They Gone?

My work resides in private collections from Norway and Scotland to the US, Canada and Singapore. It has appeared in Tricycle Magazine, Buddhadharma Magazine and on the cover of the book “Lotus Petals In The Snow." Two small pieces are in the Postal Art Collection of The National Museum of Canada.