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Leanne Cadden is an entrepreneur, marketer and artist creating businesses, branding and original artwork. She started her study of Entrepreneurship in 1999 eventually receiving a BCom from UVic majoring in Entrepreneurship and specializing in Marketing Communications. Leanne has spent the last 10 years creating business concepts, plans, branding and outside the box marketing communications for companies.
In 2003, she was First Finalist for Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce business awards for the start-up of her own downtown art gallery at age 24 showing all her own art. At age 25 she spent two years as the Entrepreneurial Apprentice on the five star resort start-up, Brentwood Bay Lodge & Spa writing business plans then moving into roles as Marketing Director, PR Coordinator and Art Gallery Creator/Manager.
That opportunity led to her role working for the McCaw Family on the 314 ha, privately owned James Island. At age 27, she spent almost four years on the start-up development as Marketing/Creative Director, Artist, and front of house Operations Manager/Guest Services. Now in her 30’s, she has consulted on numerous start-ups, sits on the Board of Directors for the Canada Research Chair on Sustainable Community Development since 2004, and continues to contract out her creative services from her home office/studio along with public speaking on Creativity and Leadership for the future business paradigm.
As an artist, Leanne started drawing and painting at the age of 4 under the guidance of her Great-Grandmother, Diamond Varley. By age 15 she was winning awards for her pastel portraits, watercolour florals and pencil, ink and acrylic designs. She won “Most Outstanding Artwork in Show” four years in row from age 15 onwards at the Interior Provincial Exhibition of British Columbia.
Portrait of my brother "Mikey", Pastel 1993. Painted at age 15
Portrait of Cheif Dan George, Pastel. IPE "Best in Show" Award 1993. Age 15
"Basalt Bones" Self-Portrait, Acrylic 30" x 40". 2006
She paid most of her way through university selling pastel portraits of people and pets and has completed a major art show every year since 2002.
A huge admirer of Monet, Turner, Whistler, John Singer Sargent and Myfanwy Spencer Pavelic; Leanne's 2009 show of acrylic paintings is inspired by Russian artist Nicolai Fechin. A trip to Taos New Mexico and a riveting visit to Fechin’s studio/museum revealed a gut-wrenching love for his passionate painting style and creative devotion. Her latest show, launched in the fall of 2009 is a reflection of play, joy, beauty, passion, freedom and love from her environment on canvas.
"Love at First Sight" - Acrylic on Canvas, 72" x 54", 2009.
Contact – Leannarto@gmail.com
“When I see an approach like this, I see a future laced with joy and success. Leanne realizes that progress is not a given; it has to be earned through the careful use of respect and time”
– Robert Genn, Artist and Authour of The Painters Keys and the Twice Weekly Letters
