Lesley took up watercolour painting in 1983. Painting had always been a favourite hobby of hers however, and a sketch book always accompanied her on travels to Europe as a student and on holiday.

She began to devote more time to her painting and held her first exhibition of watercolours at Henley in 1987. She now regularly sells her paintings at exhibitions. Lesley’s work primarily depicts English scenes, in particular her local Thames Valley area, but she also specialises in scenes of the France and Italy, which are favourite holiday destinations.