CULTURAL GROUP:
Coast Salish

BORN:
June 29, 1961

BIRTHPLACE:
White Rock, BC

Leslie Wells was raised on the Semiahmoo First Nations Reserve in White Rock, BC. He completed a silk screening course in 1981 at the Aboriginal Friendship Centre in Vancouver, BC, under print-maker Opie. From 1998 to 2002, Leslie completed an apprenticeship with celebrated Haida artist Robert Davidson, and assisted him on a large totem pole that now resides in White Rock's harbour. Leslie has also worked on a Coast Salish house post designed by Salish artist Susan Point. After working mostly in wood, he began to explore the field of jewellery. In February of 2008, Leslie graduated from the Northwest Coast Jewellery Arts Program at the Native Education College in Vancouver, BC, which was led by Kwakwaka’wakw/Haida artist Dan Wallace.