Susan

Susan Leishman is a self taught artist and lives in Ayr on the West Coast of Scotland with her husband David and their rescue dog Angel. Susan usually works in acrylics as they create bright and vibrant colours and textures, she enjoys painting on various sizes of canvas and usually works on two or three paintings at the one time to keep the creativity flowing. Susan has a small summer house in her garden that she uses as a studio and enjoys looking into the garden while she works, watching the birds and all the flowers that start to come to life in the spring.

Susan is inspired by the beauty of the natural world and it is through her art she strives to capture and convey its essence. Susan loves colour and uses it in her work to capture the Scottish scenery.  One of her favourite places is Harris, especially Luskentyre beach and this has been a real inspiration for starting her artistic journey. The turquoise water with swirls of purple and the unspoilt white sands of the beach that goes on forever is like being in another world and Susan has painted a number of works of Luskentyre over the years. 

Susan strives to infuse movement and life into her work. Whether it is the billowing clouds, the crashing waves, the swaying grass or the delicate leaves and blossoms of flowers she wants to transport the viewer into a world where each stroke of paint breathes life and evokes a sensory landscape. 

I am an artist working and living in Ayr on the west coast of Scotland. 
I am inspired by the Scottish landscape and I use vibrant colour in my work to  convey the beauty that is all around us. There are living paintings that we can see everyday if we take the time to notice. 
I was inspired to start painting in 2013 after a wonderful trip to the Outer Hebrides, in particular Harris and Lewis. The colours, light and tranquility made me want to start my artistic journey. 
I have since painted my favourite place, Luskentyre Beach so many times and I’ll never get tired doing it. The dark skies on a stormy day despite the lack of light, somehow light up the golden sand of the beach and the sea  with its beautiful swirls of turquoise, blues and purples. It’s an amazing place and I feel like I’m in a dream every time I visit. Definitely my happy place. 
I mostly work in acrylics as I like the vibrancy, texture and movement they create. I don’t frame my paintings as I don’t want my painting to be contained, I like to think my work goes beyond the canvas.