The variety of work I create reflects my background: I am a traditionally-trained fine artist with a degree in graphic design, an interest in photography and experience as an ad agency art director.

Having worked in the world of advertising, much of what I’ve produced in my day job has a commercial message that is seemingly incompatible with fine art, but I actually find an unparalleled potency of voice in advertising and communication design that inspires me in many of my personal artistic pursuits. I find myself consistently seeking to harness the powerful format and clarity of advertising design to sell not products and services, but rather ideas that can benefit us and our world. This is particularly true of my poster art.

Sometimes the influence of my artistic journey is more subtle, as is the case with my portfolio of photography. I use my camera to frame things otherwise perceived as ordinary so that they become abstract “paintings,” with the results captured not on canvas, but rather in the digital format so familiar to me as a graphic designer. I employ a digital paintbrush to put the final touches on each piece — these “brushstrokes” are largely chromatic as it is important to me that raw imagery is physically altered as little as possible.

Armed with the artistic tools of both yesterday and today, I hope to continue to cultivate a diverse portfolio that marries my many influences and inspirations.

— Leila Singleton, 2008