Roy Leadbeater (1928-2017) was a Canadian artist originally from Ashbourne, Derbyshire, England. After losing his parents at a young age, he grew up in an orphanage and initially worked in pottery before becoming an apprentice engineer. He served in the British Merchant Marine during World War II and later worked in the Palestine Police Force, handling confidential documents.
Following a brief period at sea and living in Australia and New Zealand, Leadbeater studied mechanical engineering and attended drawing classes at the Birmingham School of Art. He moved to Canada in 1953, settling in Edmonton and working in the Oil and Gas Industry, while also studying drawing part-time at the University of Alberta.
After relocating to Calgary, he worked in the engineering department of Royal Globe Insurance Group and dedicated his spare time to sculpture. His work in wood eventually caught the attention of William Garrick, General Manager of Dominion Bridge, who provided him with materials and equipment to work with steel. Leadbeater then created several notable sculptures, including a moon for the Calgary Planetarium, Celestial Flower for Lethbridge, and a mobile sculpture for Expo ’67. He received many commissions and exhibited his work throughout Canada, primarily showcasing his art at the Canadian Art Galleries in Calgary.
Below are some of his paintings:
