Lesley-Anne Doole will be exhibiting some of her most famous paintings at an exhibition in Kingham this month.

The Cotswold artist has arranged a three-day exhibition to be held in Kingham Village Hall, getting underway on the evening of Friday 7th September. She said: “I’m very excited to be exhibiting some new pieces at an exhibition at Kingham village hall this month. The exhibition runs from Friday 7th September and finishes on the Sunday afternoon. I’m going to be exhibiting a thorough mix of my art, from my early works when I started out as a full-time artist right through to pieces I’ve recently completed.”

Lesley-Anne has been a full-time artist for two decades after leaving her office job to pursue her main passion. Lesley-Anne continued: “Leaving my job in finance was a bit of a risk but being an artist is what I’d always wanted to do so I backed myself and got straight to work once I finished my old job. In my former career I dealt a lot with marketing strategies and sales which was hugely beneficial to my career as an artist as I was able to hit the ground running and really promote my work.

“It was a big decision but one I’ve never regretted making. I went from getting paid monthly to relying on myself for an income so there was a bit of pressure to make sure I made a success of it! I enjoy the freedom that comes with being an artist, I’m my own boss and I can manage my time accordingly. I want to spend as much time doing what I love, if I can bring enjoyment to others who appreciate my paintings then that’s a bonus.”

After spending two decades with a paintbrush in hand Lesley-Anne says her experiences have moulded her into a more rounded artist. She added: “What I’ve always tried to maintain is a level of spontaneity. I like to be fearless with my art, that’s certainly something I make a real effort to maintain. I was confident in my skills when I set out on this journey, I’d painted long before I chose to become a professional artist. I guess the biggest change I’ve noticed comes in the shape of recognition. As time has passed I’ve been very lucky to have had lots of commissions and exhibited my work in some fantastic galleries here in Gloucestershire.

“One of the main differences I’ve noticed from when I first set out is technology. A few years ago someone put a photo of one of my paintings on Instagram which resulted in my getting three commissions from.

“I feel very fortunate to be living in such a wonderful part of the country. I love taking my four dogs out for countryside walks, it’s so relaxing and the countryside is just fantastic. A lot of my work is paintings of the fields and hills of the Cotswolds, I love trying to capture the landscape.”