Biography

Esté MacLeod is a professional artist and licensing designer based in Berkshire, England. Born and raised in South Africa, she relocated to the UK in 1999. Her art practice covers fine art, design, and education.

Artistic Approach

“Making art is what makes me feel alive!” - Esté MacLeod

Esté’s creative practice stems from a deep, lifelong need to create that has been with her since childhood—even as a toddler her parents recognised her artistic obsession. Working intuitively, Esté allows her paintings to develop organically over time with careful observation, with sketches and drawing forming important parts of her creative process.

Colour serves as the principle element in her work, applied in multiple layers with an intention to surprise, evoke calming emotions and to inspire joy. Her art is characterised by an ethereal quality that emerges from interplaying contrasting colours, creating harmony between objects and the space around them and paying attention to detail that generates subtle rhythms.

Inspiration & Style

Esté's art is informed by both the real and the imaginary. Her work draws inspiration from the natural world, changing seasons, travel experiences, dreams, sentiments, and thoughts. Like a curious magpie, she is always looking for something to inspire a new artwork or design that she can adapt in ways to share with others.

Her background in textile and ceramic design is evident in the stylised, abundant and colourful forms used in her distinctive floral and bird designs.

By experimenting with the layering of colours, patterns, textures and mark-making, and by using her trademark floral and simplified plant forms, Esté's iconic style always retains a freshness. She employs various painting techniques to enrich her work, creating an ethereal element in her art.

Artistic Output

Esté's artworks, created primarily with acrylic paint and water-based mixed media, fall into three main categories: still life, landscapes and floral-themed art, with the last forming the foundation of her design and licensing practice.

Education & Background

Esté's educational background is extensive and multidisciplinary:

• Higher National Diploma in Textile Design (1986-1990)

• Post-degree Diploma in Fine Art Printmaking (1990)

• BA Honours in Ceramic Design with Glass (1st*) (2007-2009)

• BA Masters in Contemporary Jewellery Design (2010-2012)

Before moving to the UK, Esté worked in South Africa as a studio ceramicist, fine artist, and freelance designer. Her early education in textile design and fine art printmaking continues to influence her creative approach.

Professional Practice

As a professional artist, Esté exhibits her work with galleries in the UK and internationally. She supplies paintings to these galleries while also licensing her designs for use on a diverse range of products including:

• Homeware collections

• Wallpaper and textiles

• Ceramics and dinnerware

• Greeting cards and stationery

• Puzzles

• Wall art and paper products

• Calendars

• Editorial content and book illustrations

Her past collaborations span companies across the UK, Australia, Europe and the USA and include John Lewis, Crate & Barrel, Oxfam, Robin Spring Wallpaper, Paperproducts Design and Freespirit Fabrics.

Teaching

Since 2015 Esté has been teaching online, focusing on a wide variety of painting techniques and processes. She is passionate about helping other artists develop their creativity through her trademark Creative Leap™ method.

"Colour is my jam, creativity is my superpower. As a teacher, I love inspiring artists to form deeper connections to their own creativity, strengthen their sense of colour, and increase their knowledge of materials and techniques in order to develop a strong and clear artists voice." - Esté MacLeod

Personal Life

Esté currently lives in Berkshire, England with her husband and two Italian waterdogs. She makes art every day, whether in her studio or while traveling, and is never without a sketchbook and art materials. Her continuous experimentation with materials and ideas fuels both her personal artistic practice and the knowledge she shares through her courses.