Leanne White is a Southwest Visual Artist and Children’s Book Author/ Illustrator. As a fine artist her focus has been on recording the natural heritage of our environment: landscape alone or with flora, fauna or figures. Her vibrant, spontaneous, and colourful use of paint captures the movement of the landscape and its inhabitants in an illustrative narrative style. She has participated in many exhibitions, both solo and group. She currently has her own Studio Gallery on the main street of Nannup.

Leanne has had much involvement in public art as her role as an arts educator, teaching art for many years in both primary and secondary schools and as an adult arts educator. She has herself completed or worked alongside other artists on large murals and public artworks. As a regional artist her involvement has encompassed the Kimberley, Pilbara, Lower Great Southern and the Southwest.

In her capacity as Illustrator, Leanne has published many Children’s Picture Books, including the popular William the Wild series. In 2018 Emerald the Green Turtle’s Tale, illustrated by Leanne and authored by Aleesah Darlison, was nominated for the Speech Pathology Book of the Year award. In February 2020 Leanne was awarded a scholarship to study with the US Children’s Book Academy in illustration, graduating in November.

As author, Leanne has worked extensively with community groups in writing projects. She has been a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Australian Society of Authors and Writing WA and local writing groups for many years. She has written small articles and short stories for local newspapers and publications and contracted as editor for other projects.

Art Exhibitions

2023 – Collie Art Gallery – Journey Women

2023 – Blackwood River Arts Trail – Immerse

2023 – Open Borders - Painted Tree Gallery

2022 – Blackwood River Arts Trail – I See, Seascapes

2022 – Blackwood Region Exhibition - Collie

2022 – Art Geo Award Exhibition – finalist

2021 – Blackwood River Art Trail Exhibition – In the Company of Trees

2021 – Cossack Art Award

2020 – Nannup Art Trail Exhibition

2020 – Bunbury Catholic College Art Extraordinaire

2020 – 2017 Leanne White Gallery Nannup, including Nannup Art Trail

2019, 2017 Illustrators Portfolio Showcase Exhibition, SCBWI Conference Sydney

2019 – 2012 Rottnest Illustrators Portfolio Exhibition

2019, 2017 Illustrators Portfolio Showcase Exhibition, SCBWI Conference Sydney

2019 – 2012 Rottnest Illustrators Portfolio Exhibition

2019-2018 Albany Summer School Tutors exhibition

2018 – Wild Eyed Press Gift and Homewares Tradefair Exhibition, Sydney

2018 – Sketching the Southwest, Bunbury Regional Art Gallery

2015 - Great Southern Art Trail, exhibition at Discovery Bay

2000-2010 - Old Butter Factory, Denmark, regular exhibitor

2000-2010 -Albany Art Exhibition, regular exhibitor

2010 Wild Eyed Press, Gift and Homewares Tradefair Exhibition, Melbourne

2010 Wild Eyed Press, Gift and Homewares Tradefair Exhibition, Sydney

2009 Wild Eyed Press, Gift and Homewares Tradefair Exhibition, Melbourne

2009 Wild Eyed Press, Gift and Homewares Tradefair Exhibition, Sydney

2008 9x5 Exhibition, Old Butter Factory, Denmark

2000-2008 Regular exhibitor at Denmark Butter Factory Gallery

2000 – 2010 Regular Exhibitor at Pemberton Fine Art and Woodwork Galllery

2000 – 2010 Regular exhibitor at Boronup Gallery, Margaret River

2007 ‘Southern Creatures’, 40 Pieces, Solo Exhibition, Kingfisher Gallery, West Perth

2006 ‘Holiday’, 25 Pieces, Four Artists, Albany,

2004 ‘Drawn To Albany’, 17 pieces, six artists, Albany

1999 - 1990 Kimberley Fine Diamonds, Kununurra, regular exhibitor

1995 - 1990 Framed Gallery, Darwin, regular exhibitor

1997 ‘The North’, solo exhibition, Kimberley Fine Diamonds

1996 East Kimberley Art Exhibition, Watercolour 1st place

1995 East Kimberley Art Exhibition, Young Artist Award

1994 Touring Australia, many paintings sold at galleries or through private collectors.

1988 Fine Art and Art Education Student Exhibition, 8 pieces, Edith Cowen

1988 - 1985 Gallery 360, Subiaco, regular exhibitor

Publications

Grandma Love – Written by Jen Sherrington and Illustrated by Leanne White

Grandpa Read This Book – Written by Jen Sherrington and illustrated by Leanne White

Natural Connections – Botanical Art of The Fitzgerald River National Park

Pomphrey and Priscilla – Written and Illustrated by Leanne White

Emerald the Green Turtle – Illustrated by Leanne Speech Pathology Book of the Year Award Nomination

William the Wild Builds A Cubby – Written and Illustrated by Leanne White

William the Wild Plays at the Beach - Written and Illustrated by Leanne White

William the Wild Goes Camping - Written and Illustrated by Leanne White

William the Wild - Written and Illustrated by Leanne White

William the Wild Colouring Book – illustrated by Leanne White

Australian Animal Colouring Book – illustrated by Leanne White

Dilly Dally All Day Long – Written by Leanne White, Illustrated by Irene King

Merindah and Lucky – Written by Leanne White, Illustrated by Irene King

An All Australian Alphabet – Written by Leanne White, Illustrated by Toni Hough

He’s My Dad – Written by Leanne White, Illustrated by Colin Montefiore

She’s My Mum – Written and illustrated by Leanne White

Qualifications

1987 - Diploma of teaching – Secondary Art – Edith Cowen University WA

1988 Bachelor of Education – Secondary Art – Edith Cowen University WA

2011 – TAE & Assessment – Institute of Technology

2020 – US Children’s Book Academy Scholarship ‘The Craft and Business of Illustrating Children’s Books’