Leonie McIntosh

Thanks for taking the time to explore my work — and for making it all the way to the part where I’m expected to sound impressive and terribly professional.

My paintings are rooted in nostalgia. I’m drawn to the sugary icons and familiar objects of years gone by — the treats, toys and symbols that quietly shaped our childhoods. There’s something comforting about revisiting them, and I like to think my work captures that feeling: playful, slightly indulgent, and just a little sentimental.

I describe my style as realistic pop. Which sounds very deliberate and sophisticated — but often it’s simply a matter of layering oil paint until someone says, “That looks like a photo.” At that point, I consider the job done.

My work sits somewhere between reverence and mischief: polished, but not too serious. Because art should feel good. It should spark a memory. And ideally, it should make you smile.

And yes — that’s a photo of me, strategically holding a giant Freckle while tiny humans climb across it. Quirky? Absolutely. But that’s kind of the point.

Thanks for being here.