About
Hi, I'm Leela
I'm the one behind the paints, with the best job in the world. I mean come on - I get to go to great venues, meet diverse and wonderful humans, and bring them joy by painting their portraits!
My studio is based in Guisborough, North Yorkshire. I cover the whole of the North East including North Yorkshire, Teesside and County Durham, up to Newcastle and Northumberland. I love our area. It's got some incredible, inspiring landscapes, varied and beautiful wedding venues, and some of the best people you could ever wish to meet.
I adore working with creative couples who love quirky details. The ones whose pets mean as much to them as their human family (sometimes more!), and those who love spoiling those closest to them with sentimental touches.
I truly believe that love is love and there's no one-size-fits-all. I'll probably cry during your speeches, and I'm always humbled to witness the emotions I see in your loved ones' eyes on your most special of days.
I draw all your guest portraits individually, by hand and without using templates, so everyone feels seen - and celebrated for their unique beauty.
If this sounds like your kind of vibe - I'd love to hear from you!
Photo credits: Adam Taylor, 2Tone Photography
My background
This is where I'm supposed to tell you about my jobs and qualifications and stuff. I'd rather just tell you that I strive to constantly improve, and that my life hasn't taken an 'ordinary' route into working in my passion. Does anyone's?
I have qualifications, and I've illustrated for one of the world's biggest children's brands, but my real experience as a live wedding illustrator is shaped every day 'on the job'. By every smile on someone's face when they see my art. By the calls I have with my couples where they tell me their wedding hopes and dreams, and by the love I witness on the faces of their closest people on their biggest days. This is why I push myself to be the best I can be - because you deserve it.
Sharing in the joy of weddings makes me the happiest I've ever been, and it turns out that my artistic style, friendly nature and eye for detail is the perfect fit for laid back celebrations where sentimental details are more important than stiff and formal prescribed traditions.
When I'm not illustrating...
I like to...
Get outdoors!
Usually with my husband, my son and our crazy but adorable standard poodle - Ralph. Our area has some incredible scenery, from beaches and forests to moorlands and rolling hills. We're also lucky enough to have a caravan sited in the middle of the North York Moors, which we escape to for relaxation whenever we can.
Partake of a nice IPA.
I love the craft beer scene these days. My favourite tipple is a beautifully opaque IPA, preferably sampled in a quirky micro pub, or one of the many old fashioned, traditional North Yorkshire pubs that smell of open fires and history scattered across the moors. They're pretty much always dog-friendly too, which is a bonus.
Chill with some good music, a good book, or sometimes even a good cross stitch. Chill time is rare these days and always underrated!
