Leda was born in Newcastle NSW of Italian heritage leading to an instinctive love of food, cooking and the dining experience. Her interests, other than her current passion for botanical art and its wider scope, include art in general, interior and garden design, quilting, embroidery and reading.

Completed School Certificate followed by full-time work in secretarial duties, simultaneously completing a TAFE Diploma in Teaching Stenography which she subsequently did as a second job while carrying out Personal Assistant roles in both the public and private sector before assuming full-time care of a large blended family.

Leda first picked up a brush under the tuition of watercolourist Beryl Ray of the Newcastle Society of Artists in 2000 and quickly developed an interest in floral and plant subjects which led to her undertaking the Botanical Art External Course with Leonie Norton in 2008. Since that time, she has dedicated her time to improving and perfecting her skills in this form through,study, attending master classes and the inspiration of today’s leading botanical artists. In 2017 she proudly exhibited for the first time in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation & Friends Botanica Exhibition.

Leda has exhibited in the Newcastle Society of Artists Mattara Exhibitions since 2006 when she was awarded a Highly Commended followed in 2008 by 1st Prize in Flowers & Still Life Section. Recent sales at local galleries together with an increase in commissions and heightened commercial interest from interior designers, confirms her view that botanical art has an increasing validity in the contemporary art world together with continued appreciation by traditionalists. Her artwork may be found in private collections in Australia, NZ and the UK.

Awards

2006 Newcastle Society of Artists Mattara Exhibition “Highly Commended”

2008 Newcastle Society of Artists Mattara Exhibition Flowers & Still Life Section “1st Prize”

2016 Botanical Art Society of Australia Flora “Highly Commended”

2017 Botanical Art Society of Australia Flora “Best in Show”

2019 Newcastle Club Foundation Art Prize “Members’ Choice”

2019 Botanical Art Society of Australia Flora “Honourable Mention”