BLOG: Interview with Danni Leach

Her latest exhibition, Come Along with Me (until 10 July 2024) is a striking collection of colourful and playfully dramatic images that use pencil, ink, paint, collage and photography to springboard you into your own creative adventure.

In this interview, Danni reveals more about the exhibition, why colour is so important and the inspiration for her work.

Tell us about your exhibition, Come Along With Me.

This is my first solo exhibition, so I am extremely excited to see so much of my work displayed together in one place. The exhibition focuses on watery and woodland settings, capturing the adventures to be had and things to be found – both in real-life and daydreams.

I invite the viewer to piece together a story between characters and places or to imagine themselves in the place of the characters.

How would you describe your artistic style?

Colourful, striking, energetic and a little bit silly.

You use pencil, ink, paint, collage and photography in your work. What is it you like about the effects of using different media?

I enjoy using different media; each one requires different skills and creates a distinctive look. I like the bold visual style that comes from bringing contrasting elements together

Where does the inspiration for your work come from?

Everywhere! I have a wide range of interests to draw inspiration from, particularly anything to do with nature, water and going on adventures – I love walking and messing about in boats.

I am also a hoarder of trinkets and plants and have an exciting aquarium full of fish and shrimps, so my home decor is pretty inspirational too.

Your art is full of bright, primary colours. What is it about vibrant colours that appeal?

Colours have such a strong power over how we feel, bright colours make me feel happy and energised. They are naturally very alluring. Me, my home and my work are all this bright!

How long does it take to create a work of art?

Hmmm…this varies a lot. Sometimes it takes weeks, other times days – depends on how much time I have available and if it’s going well or not.

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to become an artist?

Draw, paint, create as much as you can. Don’t chase a certain style, do what you enjoy and let that journey guide you. Keep your interests and therefore pool of inspiration wide.

Your work invites viewers to springboard into your own imaginative adventure. What adventure would you like to have?

I like making big things small and small things big, so I guess I would quite like an adventure with scale. It would be fun to shrink down and explore even something familiar from a completely different viewpoint.

And finally, describe your new exhibition in three words.

Colourful, bright and fun.