Raymond Leech: A Master of Bird and Coastal Scenes Raymond Leech, born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, in 1949, is a celebrated New Zealand painter renowned for his exquisitely detailed depictions of birds, marine life, and evocative coastal landscapes. His artistic journey began with a formative influence from his father, a bricklayer who instilled in him a love for drawing, alongside the vibrant world of the Newlyn School artists and the Impressionist masters like Degas, Renoir, and Toulouse-Lautrec. This early exposure to diverse styles laid the foundation for Leech’s distinctive approach – a…