The wonderful world of our winding waterways

EVER since she was a little girl, Lesley Banks wanted to be an artist.

After leaving school, she studied at the famous Glasgow School of Art – and since then has had what can only be described as a rather varied artistic career.

In the early days, the now mum-of-three drew her friends and family and later travelled the globe on scholarships.

She sketched street scenes in Tuscany, painted gorgeous gondolas in Venice and captured the atmosphere of Amsterdam on canvas.

Lesley, from Bishopbriggs, has also worked in galleries and was an artist-in-residence at Edinburgh Zoo and Glasgow’s iconic Arlington Baths, a swimming pool dating back to 1870.

She later worked as a visiting artist at the crumbling ruin of Toward Castle in Helensburgh.

So when Lesley took up the post of Scotland’s first canal artist-in-residence earlier this year, it’s fair to say nobody was surprised at the change of tack!

The idea came a few years ago when the Banks welcomed pooch Bella into the family.

While out on long walks with the dog, Lesley found her creative juices starting to flow.

One of their daily ventures was along the Forth and Clyde Canal near her home and the stunning views got Lesley thinking.

Then one day, after visiting The Kelpies, which sit on the same stretch of water, she had an idea – why not capture the nation’s beautiful waterways in a collection illustrating the water, the banks and beyond?

After approaching Scottish Canals with the idea, Lesley became the country’s first dedicated canal artist.

Since starting her research in January, she’s walked more than 100 miles of the 137-mile long network, travelling the Forth and Clyde, Union, Monkland, Caledonian and Crinan Canals.

Over the past few years, a multi-million pound investment has restored the waterways to their former glories.

And Lesley has watched it happen first-hand. She’s taken pictures, scribbled notes and done some pastel prints.

But now, she faces the hard part – committing what she’s seen to paper. It’s certainly a challenge, but she’s hoping her portrayal of the 250-year-old waterways will help open them up to the masses.

With such a stunning subject, though, there’s no doubt her exhibition will turn out pretty as a picture!