Jill Leman

RWS PRESIDENT

ELECTED ARWS 2009 & RWS 2012

Born in the USA and educated in Essex & Kent, Jill enrolled aged 16 at Colchester School of Art where tutors included Edward Bawden and John Nash. She then went on to study DipAD in Graphic Design at the Central School of Art & Design (now CSM) and then worked as both ‘in house’ and freelance designer for various publishing houses.

In 1991 one of Jill’s paintings was accepted by the RWS for their open competition (encouraging!) - since then her work has been shown in many mixed exhibitions including the RA Summer Exhibition, Ruth Borchard Self Portrait Competition, Royal Society of British Artists and the Royal Watercolour Society, as well as galleries in Norfolk, Essex, Cornwall and London. Jill has had solo and two person shows with her husband Martin Leman RWS. 

In 2014 Jill instigated, collated and edited ‘Watercolour Secrets’ published by Bloomsbury showcasing the work of RWS members.

Jill became the first female RWS President 2017-2023

‘I like to draw and paint people, places and things that I know. I try to instil something into a painting that reflects back at the viewer’.

jillleman.co.uk