LESLEY NINNES

1984 – 1987 - Started taking art seriously while living on the Island of St Helena, South Atlantic.  Painted the endemic flora (25 flowering plants) in watercolour

1989 – 1996 - Resided in the Turks and Caicos islands, British West Indies.  Painted land and seascapes, experimented with different media, latterly alkyds (fast-drying oils).

1996 – 1997 - Returned to St Ives.  Attained Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Art and Design (illustration) at Cornwall College.  Joined St Ives Society of Artists and Penwith Society of Artists as an associate member.

2000 - A book featuring the botanical illustrations painted in St Helena was published. A commission to produce 40 pages of pen and ink illustrations for a book on inland fisheries was completed.  Joined Art Space, a small gallery run on a co-operative basis with six other artists.

2001 - Produced pen and ink illustrations for a series of distance learning workbooks.

2002 - Took part in a week long group exhibition 'Contrasts 3' in August, at the Mariners Gallery, St Ives.  Name listed in publications 'Who's Who In Art' and 'Miller's Fine Art Price Guide'.
 
2003 - Moved with Art Space to larger premises close to Smeaton's Pier, St Ives.  The larger exhibiting area leading to the production of bigger, more adventurous paintings in a range of styles.

2004 - First solo exhibition 'Vista' at the Bay Gallery, Penzance, October/November.  Abstracts & landscapes inspired by West Cornwall.

2005 - Joined St Ives Arts Club - took part in members September Festival exhibition.  One of 12 artists showcased in 'Panorama - an exhibition of Land and Sea' at Vitreous Contemporary Arts, Truro.

2006 - Second solo exhibition 'Fact & Figment' at the Bay Gallery, Penzance, April 9 - May 6.  Participated in two separate summer events:  the county wide 'Cornwall Open Studios' and St Ives September Festival 'Open Studios'. 

Present
Continues to exhibit with St Ives Arts Club, Penwith Society of Arts and at Art Space, The Wharf, St Ives.  Work has also been displayed at the Open Space Gallery, Camborne, Plumbline Gallery, St Ives, Turner Gallery, Exeter, Coombe Farm Gallery, Devon, Higher Street Gallery, Dartmouth, Gallery 18, Falmouth, Glass House Gallery, Penzance and the Ville D'ys painters collective in Argot, France.  Paintings are held in private collections at home and abroad.