MESSIAH, ART AND PROPHECY
ABOUT LEIGH
It was from the age of sixteen that I was first gripped by drawing and painting.
Saturday mornings were the highlight of my week when I would trek to a prefab building in the middle of Durban's cane fields to be grounded in the basics of drawing by Meta Orton - an excellent teacher and once a student at Slade School of Fine Art, London.
The next stage of my journey with art took me to Epsom School of Fine Art, outside of London, where anything weird and wonderful went! Much of that year I experienced the alternative world of performance art. After studying a foundation course, I then flew to Cape Town to continue my art degree at Michaelis Art School, where I developed my painting skills. Midway through honors an unexpected turn of events changed the course of my life and art completely. I can't recall the details, but I came across a pocket Bible with a red cover and found myself drawn to God speaking to me personally through it.
The one aspect of the Bible that had a profound impact on changing me from being a sceptic to a believer, was how accurately the Bible predicted events before they took place. Not vague prophecies, like Nostradamus, but to specific events that occurred throughout history. I learned that there is a common thread linking these prophecies and that they all point to the identity of the long-awaited Messiah. After studying and soul searching, I came to the conclusion that it is the Person of Jesus of Nazareth.
As I grew in my understanding of the Scriptures, I realized that God's covenant promises for Israel are an intrinsic part of His plans and purposes for the world. Many of my paintings are based on prophetic Scriptures. I and others have written blogs which give an insight into the historical and biblical background to each artwork.
I have exhibited at a number of venues:
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Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town
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Greyton Art Walk
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Durbanville Hills Wine Farm
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Art B Gallery
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Salem Biblical Garden
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Pop-up exhibitions
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Various churches
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Online presentation, Nani Gallery Japan