Brian Raymond was born in South Africa and trained as a commercial textile designer and fine artist before arriving in the UK in 1986. |
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| He worked in the textile design industry for 12 years designing surface pattern for household textiles and wallcoverings for some of the top manufacturers and brand names in UK and Europe. He worked as a senior designer for the UK market leaders, Dorma Home Furnishings, and as design manager for IPRIS International creating designs for some of the main high street and mail order companies. |
| In 1997 he changed careers and moved from the commercial world to engaging creatively with the communities in and around Greater Manchester. His work as a community and participatory artist grew rapidly and shortly after he started trading as LEAF ARTS. This enabled him to engage with the community in more creative ways and after 13 years LEAF ARTS has become a widely recognised name. |
| Regularly collaborating with other freelance artists enables him to deliver a diverse range of projects that incorporate a wider range of specialist skills than he alone could offer. Brian Raymond regularly works as a freelance projects manager as well. |
| His own fine arts practise comprises his passion for life drawing and drawing outdoors from nature. This has resulted in him helping to organise a weekly drawing group (Keen Eye Art Group), setting up the Life Drawing Network listings website and teaching weekly life drawing sessions. His desire to draw and paint direct from nature (when time allows) has seen him organise painting sessions in Heaton Park for the last 3 years, with more to follow. |
| Brian Raymond works between his home in Bury, North Manchester and his studio at AWOL in East Manchester. |
