INTRODUCTION
I am a self-taught artist, inspired by the beauty and mystery of creation. My atmospheric paintings are shaped by a deep love of colour, light, and texture, and reflect my ongoing exploration of themes of nature, spirituality, and stillness.
Working in oil, cold wax, and acrylic, I create original, textural artworks that offer space for quiet reflection — not through fixed meaning, but as open, intuitive expressions where emotion, memory, and wonder can gently unfold.
Meet Leilani: Oxfordshire Artist Creating Atmospheric, Textural Paintings
What I create comes from within—a visual prayer of peace, beauty and hope.
MATERIALS & MEDIUMS
I work primarily in acrylics and oils, building layers to create richly textural surfaces that enhance the depth and feeling of each original painting.
Recently, I’ve begun exploring cold wax medium, which adds a luminous, matte finish and a beautifully tactile qualityto the surface — perfect for conveying the subtle shifts of light and mood found in my atmospheric, abstract art.
MY PROCESS
My process is entirely intuitive — I never begin with a fixed plan. Each piece of abstract, textural art unfolds moment by moment, guided by emotion rather than formula. This approach mirrors how I play music — by ear, not by the book — whether it’s on the piano, piano accordion, or guitar.
As a contemporary artist, I’m not restricted by rules in either painting or music. Both are expressive, fluid spaces where I feel most free. Whether creating atmospheric paintings or improvised melodies, I find deep joy in responding to the moment — expressing what words cannot.
THE RHYTHM OF PAINTING
Just as music flows in rhythm and phrasing, so does my painting. The layers of texture and colour I build often echo musical patterns — pauses, shifts, crescendos. There’s an improvisational quality to my process, much like playing by ear, where intuition leads and structure gently follows.
This rhythm brings emotional depth to my intuitive abstract art, creating atmospheric works that feel alive — quietly resonating with the unseen. For me, painting and music are parallel languages of the soul, each one giving shape to what can’t be spoken.
ECHOES OF HOME IN COLOUR
My love of vibrant colour is rooted in the radiant landscapes of my birthplace, Sri Lanka - a place of intense light, tropical hues, and natural beauty. That connection infuses many of my contemporary abstract paintings with warmth, luminosity, and a sense of joy.
This colour-rich, atmospheric artwork reflects more than just a visual memory — it speaks to the soul. I believe colour has the power to heal, uplift, and transform, stirring something deep within us and creating spaces filled with emotion, light, and quiet beauty.
A SPACE FOR YOU
Many of my atmospheric, abstract paintings hold a quiet, meditative presence — creating space for your own stillness, reflection, and emotional connection. Rather than offering a fixed message, each piece of intuitive, contemporary artinvites you to bring your own story, memories, and imagination into the experience.
What others see in my emotive, textural artwork often moves me deeply — interpretations I could never have predicted, yet which feel completely true to them. It’s in these moments that the painting becomes something shared: a quiet thread of connection between you and me, woven through colour, texture, and silence.
MOMENTS THAT MARKED ME
There is a deeper thread woven through my atmospheric and spiritual art — one shaped not only by beauty, but also by profound trial.
Years ago, during a time of civil unrest in Sri Lanka, my infant son and I fled our home with nothing but the clothes we wore. That moment — raw, terrifying, and deeply transformative — became a defining part of martistic journey.
It taught me about loss, courage, and the quiet strength found in forgiveness. That experience still lives within my work: not always overt, but present in the stillness, in the emotive abstraction, and in the sacred, contemplative spaces I try to create.
Each textural painting becomes a gentle offering of resilience, grace, and hope — a visual language shaped by faith and survival.
If you’d like to stay connected and hear more about the journey behind my art, sign up below.
STEPS ALONG THE CREATIVE PATH
It has been both an honour and a joy to grow as a contemporary artist through Matt Tommey’s Created to Thrive artist mentorship programme
(Christian Artist Directory), and to be recognised in the Debra Hart Studio curated artist shortlist
(Debra Hart Curated Artists). These were meaningful milestones in my journey — ones that came after I began pursuing my practice with greater intention later in life.
Earlier on, family commitments meant I couldn’t fully commit to painting. Even so, key moments shaped me: a solo exhibition in Sri Lanka, sponsored by the French Embassy, and two solo exhibitions in Germany, where I lived for several years. These early international experiences planted seeds — a quiet confidence that would later take root and grow.
Now based in the UK, I’m an active Oxfordshire artist and a proud member of Oxfordshire Artweeks — the county’s largest open studios and pop-up exhibition event. I've had the joy of showcasing my abstract, textural paintingsalongside the Brightwell Village Hall Artists in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, and regularly exhibit with The Abingdon Artists and West Ox Arts. In June 2025, I was also invited to exhibit at the Langford Arts Festival, a wonderful celebration of local and regional creativity.
Embracing this journey more fully in recent years has affirmed something I hold close: it’s never too late to follow a creative calling. Sometimes, the second half of life holds the richest harvest — filled with clarity, purpose, and deep artistic expression.
LET’S STAY CONNECTED
I’d love to stay in touch. Join my mailing list to receive occasional updates on new original artwork, behind-the-scenes reflections on my creative journey, and glimpses into upcoming atmospheric paintings.
As a thank you, you’ll also receive a small gift — a gesture of appreciation for being part of this unfolding path.