Leonard was born in 1965. His family moved to skerries in Ireland around 1970. However, his path to becoming an artist was not an easy one. He struggled with a sense of alienation throughout these formative years. From a young age, he showed a passion for Art and spent countless hours studying the works of the old masters. As he grew older, he began to develop his own unique style. Despite the resistance of family and friends who encouraged him to pursue a more practical career. Leonard decided to attend art school in Dublin. It was there that he first discovered the works of James Joyce, the celebrated Irish novelist. He was immediately drawn to Joyces' use of stream-of-consciousness narrative and his ability to convey the complexities of human emotion through simple everyday language. Leonard began to incorporate these techniques into his own art, using bold sweeping brushstrokes to capture the essence of his subjects and convey the turmoil and joy of the human experience. He quickly gained a reputation as a rising star in the Irish art scene, and his work was featured in galleries and exhibitions across the country. He was hailed as a brilliant and original painter. Critics praised his ability to capture the raw emotions of the human condition in a way that was both powerful and disturbing. He was said to be one of the most promising young artists of his generation. As Leonard's career continues to flourish his paintings are celebrated as powerful and moving expressions that are deeply personal and universally relatable. And yet despite his success, he always remained humble and grounded, never forgetting the people's struggles. He hopes his work captures the true spirit of the emerald isle and the people who call it home.

Some fantastic art on display for our winter collection!

Heidi Wickham is a visual artist based in County Sligo. Having completed her BA (Hons) in Fine Art at Bristol University, Heidi moved to Sligo and initially became involved in various aspects of theatre – writing, set & costume design.

She turned to charcoal drawing in 2004 and found a real love for the medium as well as for the subjects which she portrays. Her work has become synonymous with capturing a wide range of animals both domestic and wild. Heidi has documented endangered species such as the bee and the polar bear but is perhaps best known for one of her most loved subjects – the hare.

Heidi exhibits regularly in The Doorway Gallery Dublin, The Hyde Bridge Gallery Sligo, the RHA , RUA, RSA Open Exhibitions, Whalley Fine Art Belfast, The Eakin Gallery Belfast, The Greenlane Gallery Dingle, Boyle Arts Festival and more.