Currently based in Deerness Orkney, Lesley Mackay is a great admirer of the cliff paths and shore lines that surround her – often journeying around the land by kayak. Mostly working from memory and responding intuitively, she creates marks and energetic layers with mediums such as acrylic, ink and graphite using various tools that are collected on her expeditions.

Constantly finding new inspiration to fuel her painting process, it is the energy in the sea and sky and the relentless wind and perpetually changing light which heavily influence Lesley’s work. Though strongly influenced by familiar geology, tides and sea states, Lesley aims to share an emotional and sensory experience which evokes the elemental nature of the landscape, rather than to represent a specific place.

Lesley has a strong following of keen collectors in Orkney and surrounding islands and also exhibits successfully in various galleries throughout Scotland.