Leanne Hamilton-Kinnear

Leanne Hamilton-Kinnear draws inspiration from the natural world around her. Growing up in Adelaide, South Australia, Leanne has had a passion for art since a young child. Being the first daughter of a Blacksmith/Boilermaker/Mechanic father and Florist/Painter/Poet mother, Leanne learnt to weld as a teenager and loved spending time in her Dad's Workshop as well as helping her Mum in their extensive garden.

Leanne works primarily with copper but also steel and recycled metals, making sculptural pieces and wall hangings for both indoors and outdoors, as well as custom water features. Leanne uses both Oxy-Acetylene welding and brazing as well as MIG and plasma cutting with most work hand cut and formed using traditional metalworking processes. As such each piece is always unique and individual.

Her work is strongly grounded in nature with plants, flowers and animals all common themes. Popular works include gum leaves, water lilies, butterflies and dragonflies as well as poppies and orchids.

Leanne moved to Auburn in 2017 for a breath of fresh air, following the death of both her parents and two of her four children in a tragic road accident in 2016. The property is now home to her Metalwork Business “Verdigris Metalwork” and...

A self taught Artist, Leanne originally studied and worked as a Mechanical Engineer before a career change saw her embrace her creative side, studying to become a Design and Technology teacher. She is currently working as a Lecturer and Workshop Instructor at the University of South Australia in Education Futures, where she passes on her creativity and inspiration to Design and Technology Pre-Service Teachers and Academic staff.

Formal Qualifications:
Bachelor of Engineering, Mechanical (Hons) University of South Australia, 1994
Bachelor of Education, Middle and Secondary, Design and Technology, Uni SA, 2006

Leanne regularly exhibits at local Galleries and events in South Australia and is a member of the Clare Art Collective in the Clare Valley, South Australia, as well as T'Arts Collective in Adelaide South Australia. She is also a regular at a number of local Artisan Markets around the state.

She undertakes commission work for both Private individuals and Public organisations. Most recently she completed a 2m long and high water feature for a local Adelaide resident, working with the client to provide a unique and eyecatching feature for his private courtyard. In late 2015 she also completed a Public commission for the Blinman Progress association, a 2 metre high Copper ‘Kibble Bucket’, made entirely from new and recycled copper. The work is located in the main street of Blinman, in the Northern Flinders Ranges of South Austarlia and stands as a symbol of the town’s strong historical ties to Copper and Copper Mining.