From a very young age her life was strongly influenced by art. Leila has studied traditional Russian art including ceramics, lack miniature “Palekh” and also trained in Russian Iconography. In 1995 she was accepted into Arts College in Russia, Moscow and continued studies of watercolour and drawing.
In 1996 she moved with her family to New Zealand and entered Elam School of Fine Arts, University of Auckland and in 2001 graduated with BFA in the Discipline of Painting. The same year she won the "Telecom Art Awards" with work ‘The Keys to New Zealand’ featuring on the cover of the 2001 Auckland phone book. In 2002 she visited Thailand as a result of winning "The Nokia Art Awards - Asia Pacific 2001".
Since than Leila has participated in a number of group shows and personalexhibitions. Her works feature in many private collections in New Zealand and other countries of the world including Australia, England, South Korea and Russia.
Recently a profile and a selection of her works featured in “New Zealand’sFavourite Artist’s” Book by Denis Robinson, published by Saint Publishing in 2006. In 2007 she won the Popular Choice Award at “Waitakere Trust Art Awards” and People’s Choice award at “The Morpeth Canada 2008 Art Award". At present, she is a director and tutor at LA Art School.
