inspirearts - Lee O'Leary

Lee O'Leary

Born in the heart of the South Wales Valleys 18.02.1076

Attended Mountain Ash Comprehensive School, NewRoad, Mountain Ash.

Pre Degree Foundation Art & Design at Bangor University, Parc Menai, Bangor, Gwynedd, North Wales.

I have had a passion for Painting and drawing since 5years old

Whilst having spent most of my adult life insecurely housed or homeless, I have over 7 years experience as a Network Technical Advisor, Accounts and Service Management for both landline and mobile UK Telecomunications Networks.

I have retained my interest in art through to my adulthood as I'm now 44 years old, and over nearly 20 years of homelessness art has helped me both maintain my mental health and whilst its never made me particularly rich it has ensured that I rarely go without essentials, and indeed has even allowed me to help others at times.

I was turned away at Brighton University in application ro undertake BA Hons Fine art and Painting 2017 on the grounds my artwork was not up to their required standards, this was actually the second time they had turned me away as i'd also made an application to the same course back around 2001

These Spiral mandalas started out as a pretty pattern based on what little I knew of sacred geometry and celtic knotwork art influenced also, it evolved to eventually over a year later be instrumental in illustrating a significant evolution in my comprehension of reality.

School Photo Glenboi Primary School, South Wales

FATHER Kenneth John O'Leary (Senior(

SISTER Michelle Elizabeth O'Leary

Lee O'Leary

Drawing/ Painting of Lee O'Leary by close friend Luna

I spent a couple of years living here at the Nine Ladies Campaign against Opencast on the Derbyshire moores helping to protest and protect against development of the quarrying on Stanton moore amongst a number of earlier protest camps at Sellar Farm in South Wales and Brynhenllys Farm also in the Swansea Valley,