Welcome to my website!
My name is Jenna Martin Leitch and I’m an artist, illustrator and writer from Fife, Scotland.
My work is inspired by the treasures I find, in my everyday life and in the natural world. The joy they bring to me. The “happy” they make me feel.
I collect things; In my pockets, through my eyes, with my mind, and in my heart. The things we have lost. The things we have found. The sum of our parts. Through written word, drawn line, and painted hue; I make sure the magic is remembered and the JOY I FEEL is paid forward.
My selection of brooches…
Birdies, moths, and perfect for upon a cardigan, a jacket, a coat, or a scarf!
All will be winging their way with me to @bowhouse on the 7th & 8th November for the first of my festive events, for @eastneukopenstudios Winter Art & Craft Market!
See you there!
#JOYimprinted
#illustratedwoodenbrooch
#artistdesignedaccessories
#JennaMartinLeitchArtist
📸 @jillyjillystudio
💚
This cluster of badges, say something of me.
One, a lighthouse. @cesimonis
One, a house martin. @rspb
One, a green butterfly. Designed by my Dad. For the Green Butterfly Awards in the North East given by Aberdeenshire Environmental Forum during his time as chairperson.
The last, a typewriter. “I will write my book” inscribed. Purchased whilst on a shopping trip before football with my littlest whilst in Edinburgh.
The words spoke to me. The imagery of each speaks to me. In many ways, for many reasons.
Badges, pins, brooches, are something I love to wear. They tell a story I think, an addition to any outfit, they help reinforce who you are, and what you stand for. I create them too, and I will be bringing my full selection along with me to my festive events this year. The perfect gift, in my opinion.
Day to day, at my work at the vets also, with my RCVS qualification badge of St Francis of Assisi, surrounded by the animals they cared for, and which are entrusted into my care now also, as an RVN.
I feel, our values and our strengths can be highlighted. Not promoted, but spoken of, and believed in, and I guess, for me, these adornages help to remind us of that.
One day, I will write my book. I wish I knew where to start? Who to turn to? Where to go to seek advice and guide my direction? A mentor, a believer, an encourager.
My Dad was that. My very own lighthouse, and my Mum also, alongside him through my life.
Maybe, one day a publisher will find and believe in me also.
I continue now, to find my own way… and I hope I do. I have a book in me. I think we all do. But it too, is something I am passionate about…
These little clusters of badges help tell it so.
#JOYimprinted
#JennaMartinLeitchArtist
#JennaMartinLeitchWriter
#wearityourway
#scottishartistandwriter
🪶
You might notice some new birdies in the flock…
A murmuration of multitude, will be flying with me to @bowhousefife for @eastneukopenstudios the weekend of 7th & 8th November for the Winter Art & Craft Event.
A couple of ‘festive’ souls, being welcomed into the fold, cosying up alongside, and adding a bit of glamour too, it seems.
This will be their very first outing, and I’m excited for you to meet them, and to see you all myself, truth be told!
Passion projects are what I do. JOYimprinted is my way to pay the joy I find (and feel) in the natural world, forward. So you too can bring little pieces of my kind of JOY into your homes, or gift that JOY to those you love.
Ever onwards.
Jen x
#KingOfBirds
#BobbleRobin
#birdiesinflight
#JOYimprinted
#JennaMartinLeitchArtist
📸 @jillyjillystudio
✨Drawn to the light ✨
Finishing up this winged beauty, and on to another. Pattern and tone as ever. Colourful noticings in intricate details like a dance across the page. Much like the dance to the flame in the dark. Settling for another moment, then onwards.
A new soul which will be coming with me to @eastneukopenstudios Art & Design Winter Market event at @bowhousefife the weekend of the 7th & 8th November.
It’s always such a great weekend, and we would all love to see you there!
My first event of the festive season, and one I adore.
#eastneukopenstudios
#wintermarketevent
#JennaMartinLeitchArtist
#moth
#JOYimprinted
💙
I attended my university 25 year reunion last weekend, and the phrase “you’ve not changed a bit” was uttered in plenty. To me, and by me. A beautiful day into evening with those who had been so present in my life many moons ago.
We saw works from some of our degree shows. Purchased by the university for its collection. Talking of the topics studied and how much the art college had changed, grown, evolved.
We ate together, enjoyed some drinks and took photos. Clustered together, just as we used to. A normalness, like family, comfort in these faces that graced so much of our life in those days and since.
A drive home, through darkest country roads of fife, and the richest conversations amongst. It was lovely. My friend driving me door to door, down roads so familiar to us both, and in a company of a friendship, so familiar also, even if we don’t see each other so often any longer.
There was such a comfort to be found in these moments. We all said so the next day. A kind of ‘home’ in who we are and who we were meeting. No awkwardness. Only delight.
My degree show itself, remains only in slide images taken from that week. A book also, handmade and handdrawn, each page. I found one of them, within my father’s possessions.
This week since, I’ve loved having this reminder of who I was, and how people do still see me remain.
Holding onto it. Finding hope in it.
I’ll continue.
Jen x
#JOYimprinted
#artschoolreunion
#theyhadfouryears
#JennaMartinLeitchArtist
💙
Blue skies and the call of geese in skein. Following in pattern,
with sunshine glinting.
Following.
Guiding.
Direction inherent,
they go where they must.
Life takes you places.
Some of your choosing,
Some because life dictates.
Either way,
the place you arrive is your own to make.
Ever onwards.
Jen x
#geese
#skein
#lifeisyourstomake
#JOYimprinted
#JennaMartinLeitchWriter
My littlest Wren and I went conkering last night. An evening where a walk was called for, and the jewels we hoped for were plentiful and gorgeous!
Oodles of conkers, shiny, flat sided, and a selection of conkers so so tiny. The tiniest I’ve ever seen, in fact.
Nestled within their spiny shells, clinging within, in hope to grow some more.
Once again proving, that diminutive, can be just as mighty. These most miniature of horse chestnuts, still with the power held within to grow a whole new tree. A whole new eco system.
I have always loved conker trees the best. There are horse chestnut trees which grow within Fortrose Cathedral grounds, which I always aspired to have trees as glorious as, within my own garden. Then my Dad, when he created his wonderful nature garden back home at Tifty, planted some, just because he knew I loved them so much.
I don’t know whether the new owners of my childhood home kept them, but I hope they did. Let them flourish and bloom. Become laden with Tifty conkers, and also marveled when they found their shiny joys fallen.
It’s a very specific joy, the finding of conkers. Significant of season, and for me, another revolution around the sun with my children. The fact my littlest still enjoys witnessing conker joy with me, makes me so very happy.
The gentle and joyous process of the search and the finding. Then carrying in pockets heavy with their multitude.
We will disperse them around where we live in due time, but have counted them up, and kept them to wonder over for a little while at least.
Hurray for the conker. Nature’s treasure for sure!
Jen x
#conkers
#horsechestnut
#conkering
#JOYimprinted
#JennaMartinLeitchArtist
🤍
These doors meant an awful lot to me over a huge portion of my life.
From Open Days, to visiting my brother in his studio, to then becoming a student myself at @djcad_uod
These doors, into the art college that holds so much of my life and my heart… turning, revolving… such is the life I have lead since.
It’s funny, the feeling of life moving on, but also, when you’re faced with it, a life that hasn’t changed that much. Who you are, is unchanged, it seems. In essence, the same. But also, a lifetime has passed, and in actuality, you are completely different.
I loved my art college days. 1997-2001.
Also though, I’ve adored my days since. My family and my RVN training. My career as an RVN, and also, forging my career as an artist and writer in my own right. Meeting my now husband. Becoming a Mum. Loving my daughters with so so much of my heart it feels impossible.
I’ve not changed. At all. But also, I’m so much more.
Better. More me…. More true to myself.
I loved today. My 25 year art college graduation reunion. 25 years since I turned through these doors on my degree show night, and stepped into my life to now. Forward motion and a step into forever. Trusting in life becoming all I could hope for.
I’ve been lucky. It has been a wonderful 25 years.
A turning door. A life.
I’m proud of what I achieved then, and what I have achieved since.
Ever onwards.
Jen x
#reunion
#classof2001
#JennaMartinLeitchArtist
#JOYimprinted
🍀
Currently sat on a train on my way to the @djcad_uod Class of 2001 Reunion.
With nervous anticipation, and trepidation for sure, I am heading to Dundee. Solo, but know I will meet friends of old, once there.
I wrote my newest journal post for October just last week, writing of my time in Edinburgh, when I ran the Women’s 10K, but within it, about time, and friendships, and how fleeting life actually is. It can be found on my website https://www.jennamartinleitch.co.uk within the Journal section.
It jolts us, this recognition, “time passing”. Witnessing it, in our now, but also, it encourages us to remain present in our days, and to make the very most of what time we have.
I am a social creature, with the right people, and in the right situations, I can chat for Scotland! I’m hoping today proves to be one of those days.
Wish me luck.
Ever onwards.
Jen x
🍀
#JOYimprinted
#JennaMartinLeitchArtist
#classof2001
#artcollegereunion
✨
Look for the light,
In whatever darkness you may perceive…
Real, or otherwise.
Your beacon
Your joy
Your calm
Your harbour in the storm
Rest there.
Breathe gentle, and
Know you are loved.
✨
(Taigh-Solais. “Lighthouse and moths”)
#JOYimprinted
#taighsolais
#lighthouse
#moths
#JennaMartinLeitchArtist
🤍
A n D à m h a i r
O c t o b e r
The arrival of October… goodness me the months fly in.
October arriving like a fresh start. Possibilities feeling like they are opening up, and the way somehow feeling brighter, and less heavy, for what has gone before.
I have started to paint again, draw also, and writing has come easy all the while.
In the spaces where I can, I have felt more like me. Feeling my ability to feel able, in all aspects of my life, is more available to me. I feel calmer, more present, and better placed to voice my opinions, thoughts, and feelings to those around me, than I have in a long while. A clarity.
Light-seekers and light-givers take up my creative thoughts. A concept that seems to be carrying me through, and I think, out the other side. A bridge from a previous me, and a bridge from a place where I needed that light to find solace.
A light-giver, I know I can be. I have been told, and I hold onto this as a huge part of who I naturally am.
It feels right to speak of it, as a reminder I think. To reinforce, that all is still there for the taking, and I am doing ok, amongst it all.
I have written of this, and this last while, in my newest journal post. Up on my website, I’ll link it in my stories. Do have a read, and tell me your thoughts also.
Keep continuing, as I do. Keep looking for the brightness in your days. The people and the practices that keep your head above water and your happiness prevailing. Be true to yourself.
You are brilliant, and shining.
Ever onwards.
Moths to the moon.
Jen x
#andamhair
#octoberishere
#JennaMartinLeitchWriter
#scottishartistandwriter
#JOYimprinted
🖌️
It’s been such a long while.
I have written so often, but have not painted, in months…
The same ideas, laying dormant in my journal, my notebook. Waiting.
For the right moment to occur. To feel I can stay at my desk, and place paint upon paper. Wait for it to dry, and apply next layer.
A privet Hawk-moth. Rosy and lined, in sweeping curves of black brown upon palest pink.
A light-seeker. So to speak.
Just like myself.
That’s been my main search all of this year. I’ve realised. Searching for the light in my days. Thinking of those who keep us safe at night. The moon. The lighthouses. The stars.
Then, in turn, thinking of those who seek out the light. The wonders I call my friends, those more otherwordly, moths, those at sea. Sailors.
The wakeful hours. Where darkness resides. The light is still there, for the seeing.
Enchant me, we whisper, toward moon. Hoping that he keeps us safe and good company, when we need him most. Our man in the moon.
The moths and I, we seek his guidance. Still.
#maninthemoon
#privethawkmoth
#JOYimprinted
#scottishartistandwriter
#JennaMartinLeitchArtist
