About Leon Holmes
Leon Holmes is an international award-winning Australian artist, lecturer and ambassador, who has made himself a global name as being one of the most enthusiastic and successful professionals of his trade - Plein Air Oil Painting.
Born and raised in Perth, Leon's career started with a wide range of artistic fields including Printmaking, Graphic Design, Art Direction, Illustration and Photography before the artist made his dream come true becoming a fulltime artist in 2003.
The majority of Leon's works are painted from life 'Plein Air' (in the open) and are capturing the beauty of natural light and colour and a diversity of subjects eg. landscapes, seascapes, urban scenes still lifes and portraits.
Challenged by the forever changing conditions surrounding the outdoor painter, Leon has adapted to work quickly which results in dynamic and vibrant studies that also inspire the artist's larger studio works. Leon's working process can be viewed in the TV Show 'Colour in your life' S20 E 4 (2019).
Having resided a number of years in Europe refining his skills and networking with other artists has opened Leon's doors to exhibit and teach alongside the elite of professional Plein Air Artists at invitational, international art events like ‘Maui Plein Air Invitational’ in Hawaii, ‘Forgotten Coast en Plein Air’ in Florida and ‘Art in the Open’ in Irleand.
One of Leon's paintings has specially been honoured hanging together with ones of the old Dutch Masters in the Katwijk Museum in Holland. Inspired by these painting events, Leon has worked hard to start a similar annual event in his hometown in Mandurah called ‘Plein Air Down Under’ . Leon also founded the Mandurah Portrait Group where he practises portraiture on a weekly basis since 2015.
Leon only uses only the finest art materials available to date to produce artworks of an exeptional quality that are standing up to demand of his serious collectors base and competition around the world.
To share his expertise with his local art community and students Leon is teaching regular workshops and is devoted to make Plein Air Painting of today a much more enjoyable experience for everyone. Therefore, Leon has set up a small art supply shop in his own gallery, where artist can find carefully selected materials including his own product range. The Leon Holmes Pochade Boxes and Swag Aprons are both handmade and self-designed by the artist for plein air artist that have a special demand for a light-weight, practial and compact set up.
Leon's artwork is available from several galleries in Australia, around the world and from his own private gallery and studio in the heart of Mandurah.
The Leon Holmes Art Gallery is open by appointment anytime or join the maillist for an invitation to one of his public exhibitions that will showcase throughout the year.
Accolades
Clientele
- Katwijk Museum – Holland
- Jean Stern, Executive Director of The Irvine Museum California
- Multiplex Living (over 200 paintings for Leighton Beach Development)
- G’Day USA (artwork now in Australian Consulate-General’s office, New York)
- Grandridge PTY
- Delta Petroleum Services
- The Western Australian Club
- Vasse Felix ‘Healing Hearts Foundation’ charity auction 2004
- Sorgiovani Designs
- Global Private collectors
Education & Employment
2015 – to date owner of the Leon Holmes Private Art Gallery, Mandurah, W.A.
2011 – 2014 Residence in Munich, Germany – participation and exhibition at the annual Invitational Plein Air Art Events, including Schilderfestival Katwijk and Noordwijk (Holland), Art In The Open (Ireland), Forgotten Coast En Plein Air (USA), Maui en Plein Air (Hawaii).
2012 Founder of the Plein Air Painters of Australia (Group/Website)
2006 – 2011 Gallery owner and operator in Fremantle, W.A.
2000 – 2006 Art Director and in-house illustrator for Creative ADM, Perth
2005 Plein Air Painting Trip throughout Australia
2001 ADA Advertising School
2000 Diploma at the School of Art and Design (Illustration, Advertising)
1996 Certificate of Trade in Screen Printing
– tp
- 2025 Solo Exhibition “Holmes Sweet Home”, Leon Holmes Gallery, Mandurah, WA
- 2025 Spirit Of the Landscape, ManPAC, Mandurah, WA
- 2025 Rotary Art Award Group Exhibition, Pinjarra, WA
- 2025 Belmont Art Award Group Exhibition, Belmont, WA
- 2025 Group exhibition CaPA Canberra, ACT
- 2025 Group exhibition Paint Maui 2025
- 2025 Solo Exhibition at Jarrimber Furniture Gallery, Osborne Park, Perth, WA
- 2024 Solo Exhibition ‘Postcards From Greece’, Leon Holmes Gallery, Mandurah, W.A.
- 2024 Group Exhibition Spirit of The Landscape,
ManPac, Mandurah, W.A. - 2024 Group Exhibition ‘Creating Connections’, Atwell Art Centre, W.A.
- 2024 Group Exhibition at Hale School, Perth, W.A.
- 2023 Solo Exhibition ‘Salt In The Air’, Leon Holmes Gallery Mandurah, W.A.
- 2023 Group Exhibition ‘Spirit of the Landscape’, Manpac, Mandurah, W.A.
- 2023 Group Exhibition ‘Plein Air Down Under’ Manpac, Mandurah, W.A.
- 2022 Group Exhibition Spirit of the Landscape, Manpac, Mandurah, W.A.
- 2022 Group Exhibition Plein Air Down Under, Manpac, Mandurah, W.A.
- 2021 Group Exhibition Plein Air Down Under, MPAC, Mandurah, W.A.
- 2021 Animal Arts Charity Group Exhibition, Fremantle, WA
- 2021 Solo Show – Great Southern Summer, Riverfront Gallery Denmark, WA
- 2021 Solo Exhibition – Great Southern Summer, Mandurah ,W.A.
- 2020 Solo Exhibition – Can’t Lock Me Down, Mandurah, W.A.
- 2020 Forgotten Coast en Plein Air, Florida, USA
- 2020 Group Exhibition Western Society of Arts, Fremantle, W.A.
- 2020 Portrait Group Exhibition, Fremantle, W.A.
- 2020 Maui Invitational Plein Air, Hawaii, USA
- 2019 Mandurah Plein Air painters Portrait exhibition, W.A.
- 2019 Mandurah Plein Air Down Under Group exhibition, W.A.
- 2019 Solo Exhibition – An udder Exhibition, Juniper Galleries, W.A.
- 2019 Solo Exhibition – Feathers In My Hat, Kidogo Art Space, Fremantle
- 2018 Maui Invitational Plein Air, Hawaii, USA
- 2017 Solo Exhibition – Voyage to Venice, Kidogo Art Space, Fremantle, W.A.
- 2017 Green Acres Gallery, Ireland
- 2017 Katwijk en Plein Air, Holland
- 2017 Noordwijk Schilder Festival, Holland
- 2017 Solo Exhibition – Anchorage, Kidogo Art Space, Fremantle, W.A.
- 2017 Maui Invitational Plein Air, Hawaii
- 2016 Forgotten Coast en Plein Air Invitational, Florida, USA
- 2016 Solo Exhibition – Outback, A&A Gallery, Subiaco, W.A.
- 2016 Group Show – A&A Gallery, Subiaco, W.A.
- 2016 Solo Exhibition – Ones & Onlies, Kidogo Art Space, Fremantle, W.A.
- 2015 Forgotten Coast en Plein Air, Florida, USA
- 2015 Noordwijk Schilder Festival, Holland
- 2015 Katwijk en Plein Air, Holland
- 2015 Solo Exhibition – Greece and Tuscany, Kidogo Art Space, Fremantle, W.A.
- 2014 Forgotten Coast en Plein Air, Florida, USA
- 2014 Noordwijk Schilder Festival, Holland
- 2014 Serifos Island, Greece
- 2013 PR2 Gallery, Amsterdam
- 2013 International Plein Air Bergen, Holland
- 2013 Green Acres Gallery, Ireland
- 2013 International Plein Air, Golouchow, Poland
- 2012 Agora Gallery, New York City, USA
- 2012 Green Acres Gallery, Ireland
- 2012 Solo Exhibition, Houghton’s Winery, W.A.
- 2012 Solo Exhibition, Beach Street Gallery, Fremantle
- 2010–12 Monthly Solo Shows in own gallery, Fremantle, W.A
- 2010–12 Monthly Solo Shows in own gallery, Fremantle, W.A.
- 2010–12 Monthly Solo Shows in own gallery, Fremantle, W.A.
- 2009 Solo Exhibition – The York Mill, York W.A.
- 2008 Solo Exhibition – Multiplex Commissioned Exhibition, Leighton W.A.
- 2008 Solo Exhibition – Fremantle Emporium Art Café, W.A.
- 2007 Solo Exhibition – Fremantle Emporium Art Gallery, W.A.
- 2007 Solo Exhibition – Fremantle Emporium Art Gallery W.A.
- 2007 Charity – Leeuwin 25yr Celebration, Fremantle W.A.
Exhibitions
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