Obituary for Nicky Leigh. Published in The Witness, 9 June, 2017.
Obituary for Nicky Leigh.
by Janet van Eeden.
Nicky
Leigh, well-known Pietermaritzburg visual artist, died on 26th May
2017. Born on the 29th April 1966, Nicky lived, studied and painted
in her home town of Pietermaritzburg. Her artistic roots stretch back into
generations of powerful women artists. Nicky’s mother, Leonora Everard Haden,
came from a line of renowned women artists known as the Everard Group. These
strong artistic genes were passed on to Leonora and to her daughters, Nicky and
Alana Leigh. Their younger sister,
Andrea Leigh, is a successful architect in London who also paints. Not only did
the artistic genes come from Nicky’s maternal heritage, but her father was the
late Derek Leigh, an artist and senior painting and history of art lecturer in
the Fine Art Department of the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg. He taught
Nicky from 1986-1988, while she was studying for her Bachelor of Fine Art
Degree.
Both
Nicky’s parents instilled in her an appreciation for art and encouraged her to
draw from an early age. In an interview in 2009, Nicky recalled that her
parents would take sketch books on holiday with them as they, and their
children, spent hours in the veldt doing observation drawings. She worked in
oil, oil and chalk pastel, charcoal, ink and watercolour and she was known for
her bold and expressive style with a powerful use of colour, line and tonal
contrast.
“My
work has a strong decorative component to it due to the strength of my use of
line,” she stated in the interview, “but underlying all my work is a deep
personal or spiritual expression. I like to challenge myself to never become
complacent with one particular style. I continually strive to find the best way
of expressing my vision while remaining authentic in my interpretation.”
Nicky
exhibited her work in both the Irma Stern Museum in Cape Town, the Everard Read
Gallery in Johannesburg, the NSA Gallery in Durban, the Tatham Art Gallery, and
the Jack Heath Gallery in Pietermaritzburg, amongst others. For many years, she
also held art classes for children and occasionally ran workshops for adults at
her home.
Nicky battled, as do
most creative individuals, with the feeling of being unrecognized and
unappreciated, especially in South Africa. It was difficult to maintain belief
in one’s work, she said, when only a very small percentage of the public are
interested in good art: art which goes beyond the merely commercial. She also
suffered from depression, and one of her most remarkable exhibitions was at the
Jack Heath Gallery in 2009, which dealt with how she came “through the fire” of
depression, as she entitled it.
In
one of her final interviews, Nicky summed up how difficult it was to remain
true to her work as an artist. “One can become overwhelmed by a sense of
inadequacy at times and fall into the trap of comparisons,” she said. “Many
times I have felt that I may not be challenging myself enough or that I am not
‘cutting edge’ enough. I came to the conclusion that I do not strive to be
fashionable but I strive to be true to my inner vision. There have been many
times when it has been so difficult that I have wanted to give up. But I have
persevered in spite of depression and self-doubt being constant companions for
many years. One feels a direct bond to the Creator through intense observation
of nature and being able to recreate it through one’s own eyes.”
Nicky
is survived by her mother, Leonora Everard Haden, and her sisters, Alana and
Andrea Leigh. Her fiery spirit will be sorely missed by her family and friends.
Pix:
http://nickyleigh.co.za/about/
http://nickyleigh.co.za/gallery/
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ReplyDeleteShe really did have a strong and fierce, passionate heart. Miss her very much indeed.
DeleteAn absolute angel.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Nicky for teaching me art, cause of you I'm skilled in my art. I still remember meeting you in Papillon and you gave me an art book and pencils. I said to you I can't draw and about what. You simply put your finger on my forehead and said show what's inside there. Just like that I started to draw and your help along the way and all the special things you showed me. Art is now my life and passion. Thank you my friend. I miss our non art chats and how we knew eachother hurt and battles. My world shattered when I learnt of your passing. I know your an angel 😇 guiding me as I create. Love forever your friend Simone
<3
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