Around the World With Vinyl Graphic Artist Leoni Mead

From East to West, in Japan and Sweden, vinyl graphic artist Leonie has covered the world with her beautiful art.

She sends her graphics from her Oban-based Art & Sea business right across the globe covering America to Canada and Alaska to Australia as well as Europe.

One of her most classy clients includes luxury yachts in Thailand and the Meds sport her artwork. Other than them, kayaking companies in Hong Kong and Switzerland are also on her client list, including boat owners closer to home.

‘I’ve branded the fleet of Staffa Tours boats. Most quirky, I’ve done a lot of pets for people’s boats, including a guinea pig for a boat called Little Sea Pig,’ said Leonie, who is also a kayak instructor and a member of Oban’s volunteer lifeboat crew.
Some of the most absurd requests that Leonie has faced is creating pink dinosaurs. The vinyl graphics are drawn up by Leonie then cut out in vinyl afterwards to be sent out to customers.

You’ll come across her other work in Oban and Lochgilphead high schools where she had created window graphics for Martyn’s Monday Club, produced artwork for vans and come up with logo designs for businesses around Argyll.

Leonie struck with the idea of this business in 2011 when she bought her first kayak and wanted it to stand out from all the rest. As a part of her investment, she needed start-up financial support which was provided by the Prince’s Trust Youth Business Scotland scheme and was able to buy equipment to get going.

She is originally from North Wales and studied Art & Design and specialized in Fine Art. After travelling for a brief period, she returned to the UK in 2009 settling in Oban to teach people how to sea kayak.

‘I wanted to make my boat unique and stand out from the rest. Internet search results were unsuccessful, so it was time to be inventive,’ said Leonie, who settled on vinyl as the best option and took three days to produce, cut out and apply by hand.’

She understood that there was a gap in the market for such creative graphics. A lot of her work is based online from her office in town. Through her website, potential clients can understand her design and work.

‘People can be quite sentimental when it comes to naming their boats and getting artwork for them. People treasure them and look after them.

‘They want them to look nice and stand out – that’s what started my idea in the first place!’ said Leonie.