Leslie Thompson
Leslie Thompson (b.1970) has always drawn cartoons. He calls himself ‘The Superstar Artist Drawer’ because his pictures make people ‘feel happy’ and make him ‘feel in good shape.’ He likes to draw all sorts and takes influence from a lifetime of TC, film, music and toys from the 1970s to the present day. Thompson’s work depicts a vibrant world where wrestlers, animals and TV stars are interwoven with memories from his life in Manchester. The incorporated handwritten text gives even more depth and personality to his illustrations.
Thompson’s exhibitions have led to commissions for live drawing events and wall murals from Sheila Bird Group, LADbible and Hubub Theatre Company, as well as many other openings and conferences. Thompson has been a practicing artist at Venture Arts studios in Manchester for over 20 years and through this has been able to extend his innate illustrative gift into stitch, animation, ceramics and printmaking.
EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS
2019 Environments, Outside In, National Open Art Exhibition, London
2019 Venture Arts at The Manchester Contemporary, Manchester Central
2019 ParaArt TOKYO, Japan
2018 PERSPECTIVES, Manchester and Salford
2017 Leslie Thompson, the Superstar Artist Drawer, Project Ability, Glasgow
2016 OutsiderXchanges, Quay Gallery, BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art
