Born in Gisborne in 1959, Lesley Jackson has lived in the South Island high country town of Omarama for 20 years. She enjoys painting landscapes, drawing much of her inspiration from the beautiful Otago high country where she lives. More recently she has expanded into portraiture and abstract works.

“I took up painting when I was in my forties and with no formal art education, I simply follow my instincts and treat each painting as a journey of discovery and wonderment! I am learning so much with each painting I do and enjoying the camaraderie and wealth of knowledge of other artists in the area. I’m making up for lost time and enjoying seeing this world in a whole new way!”