Anna Leyland

Anna graduated from Unitec in 1999 with a Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication, and has been freelancing as a graphic designer and Artist since. She is self-taught and has been painting for over 20 years now.

The primary focus of her work is Portraiture and most recently Aotearoa/Pasifika flora and fauna, pattern making and symbolism and discusses the beauty of Multiculturalism which is so prevalent in the 'Land of the Long White Cloud'. Some of her works incorporate a graphic element, influenced by her other passion for design, thus creating a contemporary slant on the concept of portraiture and painting, however deceptively is all painted by hand. 

She has successfully exhibited in over 30 exhibitions in the last 15 years, including the National Portraiture Exhibition in Wellington in 2006, New Zealand Fashion Week 2008 and New Zealand Fashion Week 2013. 
 
"My work is inspired by my experience and journey as a young New Zealand artist and has taken a new pathway after becoming a mother in 2006, with focus on the multicultural heritage of my son; Fijian, Wallis & Futunaan, Scottish, Hungarian and Kiwi. My work reflects multiple influences including Realism, Pop-Art and Symbolism, and celebrates the multi-cultural talent and beauty which makes us so unique in our culture.."