Artist Statement
Leanne Dewar is an artist working between Glasgow and Alloa, working primarily with watercolour, exploring its potential beyond traditional expectations. Since graduating from Edinburgh College of Art with a BA (Hons) in Painting, her practice has focused on challenging the flatness often associated with the medium, using it to build form, depth, and movement and create works that shift watercolour into a sculptural medium. 

Much of her work revolves around process, particularly the tension between control and unpredictability, using gravity, temperature and atmosphere as creative tools. Dewar draws inspiration from the process of making itself, allowing each piece to evolve naturally, responding to unexpected results. Her art practice is driven forward from connections to childhood nostalgia, the freedom of uninhibited exploration and the luminosity and vibrancy of stained glass windows.

Most recently Dewar has been experimenting with natural earth pigments, freezing watercolour washes, and encapsulating washes in glass spheres. Her ‘3D paintings’ are a testament to her bold experimentation and unbridled curiosity. Dewar's work marries humour with a fearless exploration of the unknown, inviting viewers to embrace art with a playful spirit. Her vivid use of colour infuses her creations with energy and vitality. In each work, she challenges the boundaries of watercolour, transforming it into a medium of limitless possibilities.

Minimalism is central to Dewar’s approach, stripping a work back to its essentials to encourage a slower, more considered way of creating and observing, while creating visually impactful pieces that challenge traditional ideologies and prompt critical thought.